in the first twenty minute we be sweep away by several powerfully portrayed emotion represent a suffocating and overbear mother have a violent argument with her live in 40yr old daughter while a piano teacher ( and professor of music ) love for her pupil express in unswerving critical appraisal while the joy that music can inspire both in the listener and the performer . within this short space of time our sens have be assault convincingly with very real character . we be also sweep away by powerfully perform music and show the difference between great and mediocre performance with a lot of attention to nuance . such material alone would have be the basis for an outstanding film of widespread appeal . but the trend in french cinema be what it be and it go deep and explore the repressed sexuality of the teacher and the expression of sexual freedom and subsequent breakdown within a context of passionate attraction and and the inevitable cycle of real abuse . we be draw to her suffering and and at least initially and wonder how much suffering may be relate to the accomplishment of genius and particularly in the composer she admire . the piano teacher contain graphic dialogue and depiction of sex and brutality in scene that some people might rather not watch . the scene be essential to the dilemma which the film seek to raise and so can hardly be call gratuitous . a great film it may be and but mainstream viewing it be not .