THE PIANO (1993)

Director: Jane Campion

Writer: Jane Campion

Holly Hunter as Ada
Harvey Keitel as George
Sam Neil as Alisdair
Anna Paquin as Flora

This film is an excellent example to use when asking, "what is an Australian film?" For although it won the Best Film award at the Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards, it was filmed and set in New Zealand, starred 3 Americans and one Kiwi (Sam Neil), and was also directed by a Kiwi (Jane Campion). Its qualification by the AFI lies in the funding source, which was Aussie dollars. The story itself involves a voluntarily mute woman who literally lands on the shores of New Zealand with her daughter and piano for an arranged marriage. Illicit romance and great drama ensues. Critically acclaimed and commercially successful (becoming an international hit), despite massive story inconsistencies and logical flaws. A truly harsh critic might even say it's a pretentious melodrama. See it and decide for yourself.