Burnt Piano: A Quixotic Quest to Meet Samuel Beckett

Title: Burnt Piano
Description: Set in the late 1980s, Burnt Piano revolves around a boutique bookstore owner (Cornish) who is infatuated with and would do anything to meet famed playwright Samuel Beckett (Rush), much to the chagrin of her father, a mediocre short story writer (Winstone). Reluctantly aided by her troubled son (Cameron) and vehemently resisted by the playwright’s devoted but overprotective wife (Huppert), she ropes her family into a quixotic quest to Paris to ask Beckett himself some of life’s biggest questions.
Genre: Feature Film
Start Date: TBD
Production Company: FILMWORKS COMPANY
Location: Paris – Australia
Producers: Janice Eymann, Stuart Quin, Michael Ryan
Writer: Justin Fleming
Director: Fred Schepisi
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Geoffrey Rush, Abbie Cornish, Ray Winstone, Tarquin Cameron
Contact: jan@filmworkscompany.com | +614407449946
Full Circle Productions: stu@fullcircleprod.com

Burnt Piano: A Hauntingly Beautiful Quest for Truth and Connection

Set against the evocative backdrop of late 1980s Paris, Burnt Piano explores the intricacies of ambition and familial bonds through the eyes of a passionate bookstore owner portrayed by Abbie Cornish. In her pursuit to meet the enigmatic playwright Samuel Beckett, played by Geoffrey Rush, she finds herself entangled in a web of aspiration and resistance. The film’s narrative is enriched by the nuanced performances of an acclaimed cast, including Isabelle Huppert as Beckett’s fiercely protective wife and Ray Winstone as her skeptical father.

With direction from Fred Schepisi, Burnt Piano not only brings forth an intimate look at the life of literary legends but also examines the lengths to which one will go for the sake of personal fulfillment. The story serves as a poignant commentary on the intersection of creativity and connection, particularly as Cornish’s character draws her troubled son, played by Tarquin Cameron, into this remarkable journey of self-discovery. As the family embarks on this strange expedition, the film promises to resonate with anyone who has ever pondered their place in the world.