This kind of film was different than many other movies I had seen in the past. The Piano Lesson has many deep roots to African American culture. It showcases the history of African Americans, from the time of slavery, up until the point of 1930s. Through the charming story of two siblings, both fighting over a family heirloom, a piano, the real message is about family and valuing ones history.
Berniece had kept the family piano in her home, teaching her daughter how to play and showing it off as a focal point in their front room, her brother, Boy Willie, was living in the south making a "living." He was intent on coming back to his sisters house and selling the piano so that he could buy some land. The piano was both of their inheritance and felt that he deserved his "half."
I instantly didn't like Boy Willie. He seemed rude and overbearing. It was very clear that he was only concerned with looking out for himself. He even walked all over his side kick, Lymon. It was very annoying when he was on stage.
Throughout the whole movie, Berniece and Boy Willie fight over this piano, which had beautiful carvings all over each side. Berniece was not going to let Boy Willie sell it though. She was very mad and defensive about Boy Willie even asking such a thing. The Uncle Doaker was also very adamant that the piano was not leaving.
Later on, the story of the piano was given. It was a story about the family's history. The carvings were done by their grandfather and they told the story of their family members all the way back when they were in Africa. It went on to show how they were sold into slavery and sold, divided. This piano was owned by the slave master who owned their family. After this man sold off his wife's favorite slaves, to get back in good graces with her, he had the slaves' father and husband make these carvings of them in the piano. If you remember, this man was Berniece and Boy Willie's grandfather. Their father felt that the piano should belong to them, seeing as it was their family history, so he devised a plan to steal it from the slave master. Once he round up some friends, they broke into the house and stole it. Shorty after, the men who participated, including their dad, were found killed.
No wonder Berniece didn't want to sell the piano! It was the last piece she had of her family, and most dear, her father. I cannot blame her for not wanted to let that go. But Boy Willie didn't see it that way. He wanted to do something that would have made his father proud, like own his own land. That I can understand too. As a black man in the 30's, I'm sure that was monumental.
This story made me challenge what I thought was more important. I try to live a non-materialistic life, possessions don't constitute as true wealth, but some do have sentimental value. Family history is something that resides in you, of that I am certain. It helps shape who you are, where you want to go in life and what you value. A possession doesn't do that. But this piano was more. It was a symbol of where they came from, a literal timeline. Plus, their own grandfather had handcrafted it and their father had lost his life over it. Although it was just a "thing," it was more than that.
Although it wasn't my favorite movie, I did enjoy the message. It incorporated ghosts and higher-power, which I just didn't care too much for in this case. But it was overall a pretty good watch, if not just to hear the songs they sang and used in the film.
No comments:
Post a Comment