The Piano is a 1993 New Zealand drama film about a
mute piano player and her daughter. Set during the mid-19th century in a rainy, muddy frontier backwater town on the west coast of
New Zealand, it revolves around the piano player's passion for playing the piano and her efforts to regain her piano after it is sold.
The Piano was written and directed by
Jane Campion, and stars
Holly Hunter,
Harvey Keitel,
Sam Neill, and
Anna Paquin, in her first acting role. The film's score for the piano by
Michael Nyman became a best-selling soundtrack album, and Hunter played her own piano pieces for the film. She also served as
sign language teacher for Paquin, earning three screen credits. The film is an
international co-production by Australian producer
Jan Chapman with the French company
Ciby 2000.