TORONTO – August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” is truly about bloodline and heritage, so it’s fitting that the new film adaptation, produced by Denzel Washington and directed by his son Malcolm, is a family affair.
“The Piano Lesson,” which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday, is the third installment in Washington’s ongoing quest to adapt Wilson’s plays for the screen. It follows “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and, like those films, includes several standout performances, including Danielle Deadwyler as Berniece and John David Washington, Malcolm’s older brother, as Berniece’s brother, Boy Willie.
Denzel Washington Hands Over To His Son Malcolm And Keeps August Wilson In The Family
In 1930s Pittsburgh, Boy Willie arrives at his sister’s house with plans to sell a family heirloom, a piano carved by their ancestors who took it from their enslaver. In the ensuing painful family drama, Berniece, Boy Willie, and others (including Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Potts, and Ray Fisher) grapple with the haunting shadow of slavery and the weight of familial lineage.
“There are so many legacies tied into this,” says Malcolm Washington. “I believe it is our responsibility as filmmakers to honour and uphold that. We are here because so many people battled, sacrificed, and acted to provide opportunities for future generations. This film, and the story behind it, is ultimately much larger than my family.”
Malcolm, 33, was seated with his older brother and Deadwyler a few hours before the premiere of “The Piano Lesson,” which Netflix will show on November 8 before streaming on November 22. Denzel Washington stormed into the room just as the interview was about to end.
“It really all started with me,” Denzel joked, as the other three howled in amusement. “Then I had two sons, and the next thing I knew I was out of work!”
Denzel, along with his producing partner Todd Black, stated that it was his son’s idea for him to direct “The Piano Lesson.” Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play had a run on Broadway in 2022, with many of the same actors, including John David.
“Malcolm said he had a take,” Denzel explains. “He stated, ‘Let me put something together.'” So he cut a bit short. I looked at it like, “Whoa, OK.” You want to make the film? “This is fantastic; make the movie.”
However, Malcolm did not immediately go for it. He informed his father, “Let me see if I can watch the movie first.” He began developing a treatment and eventually co-wrote the script with Virgil Williams (“Mudbound”).
“At first, I was like, ‘See the movie’? But I understand now,” replies Denzel. “He’s an actual filmmaker. He took his time and didn’t leap right in.”
While John David, the 40-year-old actor of “BlacKkKlansman” and “Tenet,” has firmly established himself as Hollywood’s leading man, Malcolm, an alumnus of the American Film Institute’s directing program, is only now emerging. “He knew what he wanted,” Black explains. “And he wasn’t afraid to reach out to people who knew more than he knew.”
Denzel kept a low profile during the filming of “The Piano Lesson,” allowing Malcolm to work. Nevertheless, his enthusiasm for Wilson’s plays persisted throughout the production.
“He’s such a fan of August Wilson and it’s such an important part of his legacy to continue telling August’s stories,” Malcolm tells me. “His main thing with all of us was to keep that focus: We’re here to honour one of our greats.”
Denzel Washington Hands Over To His Son Malcolm And Keeps August Wilson In The Family
“The Piano Lesson” is a Washington family production in other respects as well. Pauletta Washington, the mother of Malcolm and John David, plays Mama Ola. The film is dedicated to their mother.
“I started with a clear idea of this is about fathers and sons,” according to Malcolm. “As we were shooting, I really began to see this mother-daughter story, and my mother is such an inspiration to me. I’ve always seen my mother as connected to the Berniece narrative.
Malcolm’s sisters are also active. Olivia Washington plays Mama Ola, a young woman, while Katia Washington serves as an executive producer. Ironically, Denzel, the father, is almost the only member of the family who does not appear in the film. But Malcolm, wanting everyone in the family to be represented in the video, asked his father to record a quick voiceover.
SOURCE | AP
