zetes The Brothers Quay are directors, judging by conventional thought, should have stuck to making short films. I myself actually really liked their first feature, Institute Benjamenta, but judging by their sophomore effort, The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes, I'm willing to agree they don't come close to equaling their past genius at feature length. Piano Tuner is, without a doubt, a gorgeous film to look at, and often to listen to. Unfortunately, it's borderline painful to sit through with its convoluted narrative and glacial pace. Reading the plot synopsis, it sounds like a pretty good story. But the Brothers fail miserably to bring it to life. One thing they should consider avoiding completely in the future: dialogue. My God, it's awful here. A huge bust.

chris-4390 Of all the reviews I've read before seeing this movie, I would have thought that Quay brothers had made a real sleeper of a movie. After seeing the movie however, I realize that more of the critics of this movie would have better spent their time at a $.25 peep show instead of an art-house movie. They would have gotten their satisfaction in far less time and wouldn't have had all that messy metaphor to deal with. Not to mention, instead of giving credit to the Quay's, many critics have tried to describe what other book or movie it feels like. While there are undoubtedly similarities to other works, this is pure Quay.This movie is brilliant, passionate and a pleasure to the eyes and emotions. The trademark Quay animations, digital effects and intricately designed sets are a smörgåsbord for the senses.My vote of 9 instead of a perfect 10 was due to some of the storyline holes that were never properly filled in. None the less, this is a great film and is very watchable in spite of a few minor flaws.

feiziu in fact this movie wanna talk about"love"and "fate": fate control everything,and everything u do never be fresh and surprise..some one must did that before. "i am standing the painter which is someone have done it yesterday" and no beautiful thing can be stay forever: except the one who without live(died people) can get real love forever , just like machine of music(in this movie one) without live can get perfect voice forever. otherwise,u also can do what the tuner have done,lost yourself in somewhere and repeat the perfect part of your love forever...and cant take off control of fate forever ,either.and the color of this movie very beautiful too .when you have seen this movie ,you will think about (Sleepy Hollow \ Tim Burton),very similar style of design.if you are female with rich philosophic love idea ,you will love this movie very much.

Cliff Hanley The Quay Brothers have specialised in short films, predominantly animation, and this is only their second feature-length production. It's beautiful to look at, and full of imagery which all looks as if it must have had a long gestation and a provenance linked to some bizarre milieu with a logic of its own. The term, 'Art-house' has always seemed quite spurious, and especially now, as the defining line between mainstream and 'indie' is as blurred as it ever has been; but the Piano Tuner is nothing if not arty. Most of the action takes place in a landscape out of a Max Ernst painting, and the protagonist (Saracho) is a dead ringer for one of Egon Schiele's self-portraits. As Adolfo, a bearded composer, Saracho is in lust with the beautiful opera singer Malvina (Casar), who is abducted by the powerful and mysterious Dr. Emmanuel Droz (John). As Filesberto the youthful and clean cut tuner, he is summoned to the Doctor's mansion to repair his automatons. Here, Malvina, last seen falling dead on stage, is miraculously alive, although she appears as a ghost several times, and she and Filesberto appear to be doomed to share a permanent time hiccup reminiscent of Resnais' 'Je T'aim Je T'aim'. The entire film has the atmosphere of being under water or in a permanent sunset, and is so quiet that the (post-synched) dialogue often disappears entirely and only exists as the artfully added subtitles. It's an undeniably beautiful experience, but some merciless tightening-up in the cutting room would improve it greatly. CLIFF HANLEY