Mise en Scene of 'The Piano' - Performance

The performances in the scene really heighten the drama and the sadness. The two lead actresses both give very good performances and both won Oscars for their work. Her performance in the film overall is phenomenal. The amount and range of emotion Hunter is able to show through her character, despite her character’s silence is incredible. Her detailed performance shows, as well as Ada’s emotions, the depth of Ada as character, which makes the film a more interesting watch. Both these effect are generated in this scene. Initially, Hunter’s portrays Ada as very calm and relaxed in the scene. At 01:32:32 Ada looks peaceful as she sits and reads her book. However, this provides sudden juxtaposition a second later when Alisdair storms through the house and ploughs his axe through the book. When this happens Hunter’s face goes immediately into shock and terror, which gives a huge and instant contrast to her relaxed face just a few seconds earlier. Her performance develops further into the scene, when she pulls away from Alisdair as he drags her through the mud. The desperation of Ada’s face is evident, as she fights to get away from her husband. We see her struggle in a midshot at 1:33:18. The way the film focuses on her in the scene, through shot size and screen time, forces the Audience to see Ada’s desolation. Making the audience grimace, her distressed performance in the scene makes it even harder to watch. Because Ada was seen fighting off her husband instead of letting herself be dragged along by her abusive husband, the performance shows Ada as a strong-willed woman, not willing to be pushed around. This characterization is a criticism by the writer/director Jane Campion of gender roles in society. While women are somewhat expect to be submissive and compliant, Ada is a headstrong independent woman. Anna Paquin gave the other Oscar winning performance in the scene, as Ada’s young daughter, Flora. Flora is another female that doesn’t fit into the expected role of a woman in society. Flora is a lippy, bold girl, not the quiet and meek person women were expected to be. Paquin’s portrayal of the cheeky Flora, as she goes from innocent child to tormented one, gives the film a grievous tone. Flora is initially performed, in the film, as an innocent sinless girl. However, in this scene the audience sees her innocence tarnished. Flora wails as her mother is abused in a close-up at 1:33:39. Even if only briefly, this shot focuses the audience’s attention on Flora’s misery. We can see close up Paquin’s face as she screams and her eyes water. This part of the scene is truly heart-breaking, through the performance here; the audience is able to see the consequences of Alasdair’s violence. The added despair of the scene, from Paquin’s performance reinforces the idea that women shouldn’t be expected to fall into gender roles. The dark, sombre tone of the film is a condemnation of gender roles and is reflective of Ada’s sadness as she is forced into gender stereotypes, and this tone is emphasised through Paquin’s performance.