Netflix has released the trailer for Malcolm Washington’s “The Piano Lesson” Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Danielle Deadwyler & Corey Hawkins. The film will have its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, come to theaters in limited release on November 8th, and then arrive on Netflix to stream on November 22nd.
Plot Synopsis: A battle is brewing in the Charles Household. At the center stands a prized heirloom piano tearing two siblings apart. On one side, a brother (John David Washington) plans to build the family fortune by selling it. On the other, a sister (Danielle Deadwyler) will go to any lengths to hold onto the sole vestige of the family’s heritage. Their uncle (Samuel L. Jackson) tries to mediate, but even he can’t hold back the ghosts of the past.
What do you all think of the trailer? Based on another August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “The Piano Lesson,” like “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” before it, it looks to be another fantastic showcase for Black artists behind and in front of the camera. Expect Oscar-worthy performances from Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington, who received rave reviews for playing the same roles on Broadway recently, and Danielle Deadwyler, the mesmerizing leading actress of “Till” who was unjustly overlooked by the Academy for a nomination. The film appears to be uncovering profound truths about our perception of the past and how our legacy is shaped. While we don’t know how Malcolm Washington will perform behind the camera since he’s making his feature directorial debut, his father, Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, is producing, and the film’s trailer appears to be more cinematic than perhaps initially expected for a play-to-screen adaptation. The tone overall strikes me as more thriller-esque, almost suggesting a darkness to the material that will have dire ramifications for this torn family. What do you all think? Do you believe this will be an Oscar player for Netflix? We’ll find out soon up in the mountains of Telluride. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below or on our X account.
