Drama · Feature · Paris
Burnt Piano
In development
A grieving Parisian bookseller becomes obsessed with meeting the legendary playwright Samuel Beckett, believing he may hold the answer to the most devastating question of her life: why does one person die and another live?
Synopsis
Karen, a boutique bookstore owner, travels to Paris on an unlikely quest to meet Samuel Beckett. Still grieving the loss of one child, she believes the playwright may help her understand the inexplicable. Her surviving son, her father, a frustrated writer, and Beckett's fiercely protective wife become entangled in a series of encounters, misunderstandings and unexpected revelations.
A story that moves between heartbreak and humour, Burnt Piano explores grief, family, the human condition and the possibility that some questions have no answers.
- Director
- Fred Schepisi
- Writer
- Justin Fleming
- Producers
- Janice Eymann
- Stuart Quin
Director
Fred Schepisi
Internationally Respected Australian Filmmaker
Fred Schepisi is one of Australia's most distinguished and internationally respected filmmakers, with a career spanning more than four decades and an extraordinary body of work across film and television.
A master storyteller with a rare understanding of human behaviour, Schepisi has built his reputation on films that combine emotional depth, intelligence, humour and richly drawn characters. His acclaimed credits include The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Plenty, Roxanne, A Cry in the Dark, The Russia House, Six Degrees of Separation, Last Orders, Empire Falls, The Eye of the Storm and Words and Pictures.
Throughout his career, Schepisi has worked with some of the world's finest actors, including Meryl Streep, Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Paul Newman, Kirk Douglas, Steve Martin, Will Smith, Helen Mirren and Juliette Binoche. He is particularly recognised for his ability to draw nuanced, deeply personal performances from distinguished casts.
His work has earned numerous international honours, including a Golden Globe, Australian Film Institute awards and an Order of Australia for his contribution to filmmaking.
With his distinctive visual sensibility, literary intelligence and exceptional sensitivity to the complexities of family, loss and human relationships, Fred Schepisi brings a remarkable creative perspective to Burnt Piano.
Writer
Justin Fleming
Playwright & Author
Justin Fleming is an internationally produced playwright and author whose work has been published and performed across Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe. His writing is distinguished by its intelligence, emotional depth, sharp wit and fascination with the complexities of human relationships.
His play Burnt Piano received remarkable recognition from Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter, who described it as “a work of considerable authority and distinction,” praising in particular its “amazingly successful portrait of Beckett.”
Blending tragedy, comedy and philosophical inquiry, Burnt Piano explores one woman's desperate search for meaning after the loss of a child. Set against the intellectual and artistic landscape of Paris, the story brings together family conflict, the enduring mystery of Samuel Beckett and the often unexpected ways humour emerges from heartbreak.
The play has been performed in Sydney, Melbourne, Paris, New York and Montreal, establishing its international appeal and its ability to connect with audiences across cultures.
With Burnt Piano, Fleming offers a deeply human story about grief, family, the limits of understanding and the possibility of learning to live with life's unanswered questions.
Starring
Isabelle Huppert
One of France's most celebrated actresses, Isabelle Huppert has built an extraordinary career spanning more than five decades and nearly 100 films. Renowned for her intelligence, emotional complexity and fearless performances, she has worked with some of the world's most acclaimed directors. Her celebrated performances include The Piano Teacher, Elle, Violette and The Lacemaker. She received an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe for Elle.
Geoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Rush is one of Australia's most distinguished actors, with an extraordinary career across film, television and theatre. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his unforgettable performance in Shine. His other celebrated roles include Captain Barbossa in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Lionel Logue in The King's Speech and Peter Sellers in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. Rush is among the rare performers to have won an Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award.
Abbie Cornish
Abbie Cornish is an internationally recognized Australian actress known for her versatility and compelling performances. She first attracted widespread attention in Somersault, followed by acclaimed roles in Candy, opposite Heath Ledger, and Jane Campion's Bright Star. Her Hollywood credits include Limitless, Sucker Punch, RoboCop and Martin McDonagh's Oscar-winning Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. She also starred in the television series Jack Ryan.
Ray Winstone
Ray Winstone is one of Britain's most recognizable and respected character actors. Known for his powerful screen presence, unmistakable voice and commanding performances, he first made his mark in the acclaimed British film Scum. His extensive filmography includes Martin Scorsese's The Departed, Sexy Beast, Cold Mountain, Hugo, The Proposition and Noah. Winstone has established himself as a compelling performer in both British independent cinema and major international productions.
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