Daniel Roher even won an Oscar in 2023 for “Navalny,” a film about the poisoned Russian opposition leader. With the romantic thriller comedy “The Piano Tuner”, the Canadian documentary specialist is now making his debut as a feature film director – and striking a completely different note. The script, which Roher wrote together with “An (im)possible hardship” author Robert Ramsay, occasionally seems a little overloaded…
… but overall, the charm and the many little moments that keep us emotionally carried away prevail. Shooting star Leo Woodall (“Nuremberg”) impresses in the title role, who is supported by an excellently cast ensemble around the vulnerable and amusing Hollywood veteran Dustin Hoffman (“Rain Man”).
Harry (Dustin Hoffman) and Niki (Leo Woodall) ensure that every note is right for the customers.
Niki (Leo Woodall) works as a piano tuner in New York with his fatherly friend Harry (Dustin Hoffman). The man in his mid-twenties used to be a child prodigy on the piano – equipped with perfect pitch! But then he developed hyperacusis, a condition that makes him extremely sensitive to noise. Hammering, honking or an alarm system cause him unbearable pain, which can even lead to unconsciousness. That’s why Niki has to wear special ear protection that looks like headphones.
When Niki is working on a grand piano in a rich customer’s empty house, he meets Uri (Lior Raz) and his crew. The crooks have gotten into the building and are now noisily trying to crack a safe. While trying to get rid of the burglars, Niki discovers that his exceptionally developed hearing gives him a unique talent for opening safes. Because Harry is on the verge of bankruptcy after a serious heart attack, the young man wants to help him financially. So he suddenly finds himself a member of Uri’s gang…
Quite a lot at once
Character drama, crime thriller, coming-of-age story, father-son story, romance and sitcom with music – overall, Daniel Roher squeezes too much into “The Piano Tuner”. Unfortunately, the whole thing loses focus in some sequences. However, it never goes so far that we as viewers lose interest in the plot or even the characters. The scenario in all its shades is told too interestingly, presented too attractively and warmed by the charm of the cast.
Above all, Leo Woodall delivers a very convincing, emotionally coherent debut as the sole leading actor in a feature film. It doesn’t take long before we begin to sympathize with him and cringe when loud or dissonant noises are heard somewhere on the soundtrack, very effectively designed by Oscar winner Johnnie Burn (“The Zone Of Interest”) – which happens again and again and keeps us mentally on our toes.
“The Piano Tuner” is a thriller – but it definitely has a romantic touch too.
Niki is a young man who tries to break out of his shell and search for himself. He is confronted with enormous obstacles. These are piling up in front of him due to his handicap and the self-imposed responsibility for the financial support of his surrogate father, who is in poor health. Niki is actually a good person – someone who doesn’t want to harm anyone. But the situation forces him to go down criminal paths. That’s why it’s so important that Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman harmonize perfectly with each other.
We get to know their characters at work and learn a lot about the chemistry between them in an elegant way. Harry was the best friend of Niki’s parents, who died much too early. He more or less took over her role and acts as a mentor for Niki. Harry not only owes him his job, he also loves the old eccentric’s classic jazz records. Meanwhile, Harry is worried that his young friend is withdrawing too much from the world – and so he keeps trying to nudge him out of his comfort zone with little nudges.
A lunch break to fall in love with
One of the film’s most beautiful scenes takes place in a diner during the piano tuning duo’s lunch break. Here they meet the tense music student Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu, “Her Private Hell”), who is facing a crucial test for her career. Niki is obviously taken with her, but would probably never approach Ruthie on her own. That’s why Harry lets all of his over-80 charm shine and practically forces his foster son into a conversation with the young woman. Liu and Woodall manage to credibly convey a cautious mutual attraction between their characters. From this first encounter, the audience keeps their fingers crossed for them to get together.
However, the path to happiness is made more difficult by the fact that Niki helps the shady Uri, portrayed by Lior Raz (“Gladiator II”) in equal parts threatening and yet somehow not unsympathetic, with his burglaries. During their raids, they prefer to steal outrageously expensive chronometers, the absence of which often goes unnoticed by their rich owners. Nevertheless, of course it can’t work out in the long run – and so at some point the whole thing literally blows up in Niki’s face.
Niki doesn’t just use his perfect pitch for good!
The circumstances chosen by Roher for this climax surrounding the character of Jean Reno (“Léon – The Professional”), who is only seen for a few scenes, seem very contrived. In any case, the filmmaker manages to structure the story much better than its resolution. And the puns with the English-language terms “Tuner” and “Tuna” (tuna), which are repeated a little too often in the original version, are more likely to cause shrugs than laughs in the German dubbing.
Nevertheless, the film ends on a reconciliatory note thanks to a narratively rather quiet and modest, but emotionally broad finale. So we can’t wait to see what else Daniel Roher will throw at us with his next project, which has already been shot, the RomCom “Positano” with Oscar winners Matthew McConaughey and Zoe Saldaña.
Conclusion: An excellent cast around “The White Lotus” star Leo Woodall and screen legend Dustin Hoffman draws us deep into this original and emotional mix of neo-noir thriller, character comedy and romantic drama. A genuine feel-good film that leaves you feeling completely at ease when you leave the cinema.