Mother and Daughter

The film The Piano by Australian filmmaker Jane Champion, focuses on the life of Ada McGrath (as played by Holly Hunter), a sensitive and sensual pianist who happens to be mute. Much of the film is dedicated to how she chooses to relate, or not relate to the outside world. The film opens with her narrative, and we are informed this is not her actual voice, but her mind’s voice or the voice inside her head. At the film’s onset, Ada’s strongest relationship is with her young daughter Flora. Through Flora, Ada relates to the outside world. Flora often takes on the role of translator for her mother by communicating her mother’s wishes to others. Both Flora and Ada seem to value their privacy and special bond. Because Flora is sometimes Ada’s only link to the world outside of her head she does hold a bit of power. This unique situation can even be seen as a role reversal, with the precocious Flora being the one who reaches out and interacts with the outside world, while Ada, the mother remains silent and restrained. Although Ada still greatly cares for her daughter and acts as her protector, she is stuck in her own world and cannot, or will not connect or reach out to anyone. As the film progresses, Ada is awakened sexually and emotionally through her relationship with her Piano and Mr. Baines. The sensual relationship is based on touch and music, two things that transcend Ada’s silence. This relationship provides an intimate human connection Ada had been previously lacking in her life. Thus, Ada’s reliance on her daughter and their relationship weakens. This is proven by the example that even though Mr. Baines is illiterate, Ada no longer needs her daughter to translate. Their bond is so strong only Ada’s touch and body language is needed to communicate her feelings. Flora, despite the fact that she has made some friends in the new community and acted in the pageant, begins to feel neglected. She sees that her relationship with her mother is in decline and instead strikes up a partnership with Alisdair. Despite the fact that she swore in the beginning of the film to never call this man ‘papa’ or ‘father’ she soon does. In the climax of the film, Flora’s loyalties are tested. Although she never resumes her role as her mother’s sole human connection to the world, Flora rediscovers her love for Ada.