A mute Scottish woman arrives in colonial New Zealand for an arranged marriage. Her husband refuses to move her beloved piano, giving it to neighbor George Baines, who agrees to return the piano in exchange for lessons. As desire swirls around the duo, the wilderness consumes the European enclave.
adultery
secret love
beach
jealousy
love triangle
isolation
culture clash
sexuality
arranged marriage
strangeness
violent husband
new zealand
maori
settler
wilderness
mute
pianist
playing piano
woman director
sign languages
piano
19th century
severed finger
mother daughter relationship