What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Piano
Jane Campion · Film · 1993
If you loved The Piano, start with Jane Eyre (2006) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Piano across media.
If you loved The Piano, you are drawn to stories where internal longing battles against the stifling expectations of society.
Books on the same thread
The Awakening
Kate Chopin · Book · 1899
Explores: Female desire, Marital dissatisfaction, Social constraints.
Like Ada in The Piano, Edna Pontellier experiences a profound awakening of desire that directly challenges the restrictive social constraints of her marriage and era.
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Brontë · Book · 2010
Shares a thread with The Piano: Gothic Romance.
Much like the atmosphere in The Piano, this novel explores the internal fortitude of a woman seeking independence and genuine connection while navigating a landscape of social isolation.
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen · Book · 1813
Explores: Social Class, Love and Marriage, Gender Roles.
You will recognize the tension of navigating strict social hierarchies found in The Piano, though here the search for agency unfolds through the lens of wit and courtship.
The Age of Innocence
Edith Wharton · Book · 2011
Explores: Forbidden Love, Social Class, Repression.
This narrative mirrors the repressed desire seen in The Piano, focusing on a protagonist who must weigh their own emotional truth against the rigid demands of their social circle.
Series on the same thread
Pride and Prejudice
Andrew Davies · Series · 1995
Shares a thread with The Piano: Period Drama.
The focus on courtship and the weight of social reputation echoes the period drama elements of The Piano, providing a refined look at the complexities of romantic choice.
The Queen's Gambit
Scott Frank · Series · 2020
Shares a thread with The Piano: Period Drama.
Like the determined protagonist of The Piano, this story follows a woman carving out her own path and asserting her brilliance within a world that underestimates her.
Jane Eyre
Series · 2006
Shares 2 threads with The Piano: Period Drama, Gothic Romance.
The gothic mood and the intense, forbidden romance at the heart of this adaptation will resonate with anyone captivated by the dark, emotional landscape of The Piano.
Primal
Genndy Tartakovsky · Series · 2019
Explores: Survival, Unlikely friendship, Human-animal bond.
If The Piano hit, Primal shares the thread.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
If The Piano hit, The Archers shares the thread.
The Big Picture
Podcast
Explores: Hollywood, Awards Season, Film Criticism.
If The Piano hit, The Big Picture shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Piano set in a modern location?
No, The Piano is not set in a modern location. The story takes place in the wilderness of nineteenth-century New Zealand, where the protagonist Ada arrives following an arranged marriage that forces her to navigate a complex battle of wills.
What is the main conflict in The Piano?
The main conflict in The Piano involves Ada as she struggles against her controlling husband after arriving in New Zealand. This tension is further complicated by her developing a forbidden attraction to a rugged frontiersman who challenges her situation.
Does The Piano feature a mother and daughter?
Yes, The Piano features a mother and daughter. Ada travels to the wilderness of nineteenth-century New Zealand accompanied by her spirited daughter, where they face the challenges of an arranged marriage and an unfolding forbidden attraction.
Is The Piano about an arranged marriage?
Yes, The Piano centers on an arranged marriage that brings the protagonist, Ada, to the New Zealand wilderness. Her arrival leads to a struggle for agency as she deals with her husband and a burgeoning attraction to a frontiersman.