In the clinical, highly formalized manner that has become his signature in such films as Benny's Video (1992), Michael Haneke strips away from The Piano Teacher the romantic lushness of the generic melodrama to expose a cold, alienated social structure founded on abuse.
Erika Kohut, cuarenta años, profesora de piano en el Conservatorio de Viena aun viviendo con su madre, se escapa regularmente de su sofocante influencia y de esa aburrida rutina acudiendo al cine o a sórdidos espectáculos eróticos.