Short:The Piano Tuner

The Piano Tuner is a tale about a failed musician turned piano tuner. However, he pretends to be blind as it has become apparent this is good for business. With clients telling other clients about how fascinating a blind piano tuner is, all is beginning to improve for Adrien and his twisted work. Sadly and probably expected, he soon stumbles across a very severe problem, leaving you with a cliff-hanger and a million different interpretations.

Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet plays Adrien. I felt his performance was chilling and remarkably confined for a character who clearly has so many thoughts and complications. It’s difficult to decide whether to be against a man playing blind for his own profits or not. Can you see it as an effective marketing move? That’s probably a little insensitive to see it as so, however when the final events occur you soon sympathise with Adrien’s horrific circumstance, neglecting all previous judgement.

Along with a greatly directed and shot piece of short cinema, it’s worth mentioning all the sound that’s going on. Clearly we hear a lot of piano playing, which in itself is a delight and something I, personally, could listen to throughout a feature film, but underneath are clear and loud ambient sounds which cleverly ties into the notion of having an enhanced sense due to the loss of another. These layers set apart the film from your standard short and overall enhances the viewing experience.

The Piano Tuner is one of my favourite shorts I have seen this year and I look forward to see what Olivier Treiner has in store for the future.

Watch The Piano Tuner below – (Slight NSFW)