The California Film Institute (CAFILM) is proud to announce a Spotlight presentation of Netflix’s upcoming release, THE PIANO LESSON, at the 47th Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF). The MVFF Spotlight program, dedicated to celebrating exceptional work by film artists in their current roles, will feature a screening of The Piano Lesson and presentation of the MVFF Award for acting to Danielle Deadwyler (Till).
Directed by Malcolm Washington in his feature film directorial debut, The Piano Lesson is a compelling adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork. Danielle Deadwyler and director Malcolm Washington will attend this special screening, followed by an on-stage conversation.
Who: Danielle Deadwyler and Malcolm Washington
Date: Sunday, October 6, 2024
Time: 6:30 PM
Screening Location: Sequoia Cinema, 25 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA
“Malcolm Washington’s confident directorial debut both honors the soul of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize winning play and infuses it with a vibrant cinematic sensibility. He’s assembled a great cast, actors who have an incredible sense of the language and spirit that made Wilson one of America’s greatest playwrights,” said Zoë Elton, MVFF Director of Programming. “And Danielle Deadwyler’s work in this film is exquisite. As she did in Till, she again proves herself to be one of the most outstanding actors of her generation. We’re excited to be honoring her work with the MVFF Award.”
A battle is brewing in the Charles household, where a prized heirloom piano stands at the center of a conflict that threatens to tear two siblings apart. On one side, a brother (John David Washington) is determined to build the family fortune by selling the piano, while on the other, a sister (Danielle Deadwyler) will stop at nothing to preserve the sole vestige of their family’s heritage. Their uncle (Samuel L. Jackson) attempts to mediate, but even he can’t hold back the ghosts of the past. The Piano Lesson delves into the intergenerational dynamics of identity, resilience, and transcendence, revealing profound truths about how we perceive the past and who gets to define our legacy. Directed and co-written by Malcolm Washington in his feature directorial debut, the film is brought to life by Oscar-nominated producers Denzel Washington and Todd Black, and features an all-star cast including Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Danielle Deadwyler, and Corey Hawkins.
Danielle Deadwyler, celebrated for her powerful performances, joins the ranks of past MVFF Spotlight honorees such as Nikyatu Jusu, Regina King, Denis Villeneuve, Robert Pattinson, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Brie Larson, Steve McQueen, and many other extraordinary talents.
