Agree with others there is not a single character here that is likable or you want to care about. In Hunter, her main character is walled-in and obnoxious to say the least. She made no attempt to relate to anyone except her daughter, then suddenly she's found this great affection for the perverted, scheming Mr.Bain, the neighbor. It was not believable. As for the husband, who for a moment looks like Robert Wagner in a rain hat in an early post, only to revealed to be the inexpressive,aloof Sam Neil whose appearance in any movie is guaranteed flop; maybe the bad attracts the inept. The young daughter is equally repugnant with her own brand of contemptuousness. Lastly director Jane Campion who was New Zealand born, bored a haughty supremacy attitude toward the natives - a third character in this movie. There were no worthy diaglog written for them and they were collectively a servitude with low intel, from the way they were portraited.
If Hunter's only expression comes from playing her piano, or so the underlying theme and the title tells us, you'd wonder why there are not more varying pieces? It is the same piece over and over again except one brief underscored occasion. Could Hunter feels the same mood all the time, which appears that way actually with her dour complexion.
Overall the film moved too slow, too bleak and without substance for much of the first half. There were genuine moments of importance in the finale but I feel the screen play could have a much better outcome if it is handled better or differently, perhaps with more sensitivity.
If Hunter's only expression comes from playing her piano, or so the underlying theme and the title tells us, you'd wonder why there are not more varying pieces? It is the same piece over and over again except one brief underscored occasion. Could Hunter feels the same mood all the time, which appears that way actually with her dour complexion.
Overall the film moved too slow, too bleak and without substance for much of the first half. There were genuine moments of importance in the finale but I feel the screen play could have a much better outcome if it is handled better or differently, perhaps with more sensitivity.