There's a certain audience that likes the idea of "independent"* cinema.... meaning non-traditional, non-narrative, a bit pretentious too. This is a film for them.
We have a main character, she is very well played - the actress has a career as television comedian but here she manages to do very well in drama. It's not a performance problem. The film is about her.. the problem seems to be that we don't get to know a lot about her. Okay, she's fed up with her life, she wants something else... we don't know what or why. She just wanders around. She drinks cognac. There's nothing wrong with not telling everything. But you need to get the audience to empathise with her and really feel the way she is feeling and want to run away to. I think here is where it fails.
The photography/camera is very good. The lighting is very simple but very well done. Tidy. The movements are stylish, I'd call them meticulous to an immaculate level.
Nice surprise** : the sound is also interesting. Lots of atmosphere sounds. Her character is mostly her heels. But she also comments she has a hearing problem... which isn't well used in the film. It could have been better. The music is well used... it represents her feelings, her drive, whatever it is that they are not telling us, the music gives us a hint. And it's used only for those moments. Good choice.
The ending... is the beginning of a new film, a more traditional film. Did I like La mujer sin piano? I didn't hate it but it isn't my kind of film. I like feeling together with the character, I wanted to cheer for her to do well. I didn't get involved in her story. You can do a non-narrative film an still convey emotions.
* I could start a rant about "independent" cinema, "independent" of what/whom... but I won't do it this time.
** Why should anyone be surprised to find good use of sound in a film?!
La mujer sin piano
The trailer. That's the film. That's all you get from it.
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