By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: The Quay Brothers
Starring: Amira Cesar | Assumpta Serna | Gottfried John
Country: united_kingdom
Year: 2006
Running time: 97
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0342882/
Bruce says: “Identical twins Stephen and Timothy Quay have quite a reputation (albeit primarily as animators) considering THE PIANO TUNER OF EARTHQUAKES is just their second feature film. They were born in the USA but studied film in England where they now live. Their first feature INSTITUTE BENJAMENTA, OR THIS DREAM PEOPLE CALL HUMAN LIFE was made in 1995 so one could hardly call them prolific. One of the Quay Brothers’ short films is entitled THE CABINET OF JAN SVANKMAJER, the title of which may have passed unnoticed before this year when Jan Svankmajer’s LUNACY received critical acclaim. If you happen to like cult cinema, horror films, or just plain weird and bizarre fare both THE PIANO TUNER OF EARTHQUAKES and LUNACY may be your cup of tea. Artistically THE PIANO TUNER OF EARTHQUAKES bears resemblance to Guy Maddin’s films. The film has the lush but hazy visual style of a prior generation. Fantasy trumps reality with every chance it is afforded, and the Quays cleverly integrate animation into the story.
“Mad doctor Emmanuel Droz is intent on creating his own automaton museum (animated tableaus) on a remote island where he lives and performs strange experiments. Malvina, the famed opera singer, is in love with the tenor performing with her; they are soon to be married. In mid-performance Dr. Droz kidnaps her for the next ‘installation’ in his garden. Dr. Droz manages to find a dead ringer for the tenor, a piano tuner who he enlists to adjust the existing automatons and prepare Malvina for her transformation into a mechanical nightingale.
“Stealing the show is the doctor’s former lover and assistant Assumpta (Assumpta Serna) who is equally mysterious and seductive. But the film is not about the acting, it’s all about the style, an abundance of style. 3 1/2 cats.”