Photo Credit: Associated Press
Yet again has the nation witnessed the impact of the Washington family upon the entertainment world with the Netflix rendition of this Pulitzer Prize-winning play by August Wilson entitled The Piano Lesson. This film, directed by Malcolm Washington, produced by Denzel Washington, and starring John David Washington and Katia Washington, pays homage not only to the works of Wilson but also to the continuous strides of this iconic family.
The Piano Lesson weaves the story of the Charles family: primarily, a brother-sister contest between Boy Willie and Berniece over an heirloom piano that chronicles their family history with carvings made by their ancestor while enslaved. Boy Willie wants to sell the piano to buy land, while Berniece wants to keep it as a connection to their past. The cast includes Samuel L. Jackson as their uncle, Doaker, along with Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Corey Hawkins, Skylar Aleece Smith, Gail Bean, and Erykah Badu.
Malcolm Washington, in his feature directorial debut, made sure to underscore the accessibility of the story to a younger set of audiences. Central to this adaptation was making something accessible to young people-that they can see themselves in, he said. Through Netflix’s wide reach, it’s the hope that this film will inspire a new generation with Wilson’s powerful words.
Its lead, John David Washington, who plays Boy Willie, said he was paying tribute to the “artists who’ve interpreted Wilson’s work” over the years-including his father Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Samuel L. Jackson among others. “They showed us how to do it. Hopefully the younger generation will be inspired by what’s possible with these words.
Katia Washington, an executive producer, said her brother Malcolm was simply dedicated to the craft. It’s been so rewarding to watch him step into this position with open eyes and an open heart and just succeed and thrive and fly, she said. According to Malcolm, his vision for the film was to do something that is relevant to today and still hold onto the core and essence of Wilson’s original work.
This film is part of Denzel Washington’s commitment to adapting all of Wilson’s American Century Cycle-a series of ten plays that tell the story of the Black experience throughout the 20 th century. To date, Denzel Washington has directed and produced Fences (2016) and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020), receiving critical acclaim for both.
The Piano Lesson Is a showstopper regarding how the Washington family has managed to be told and continued telling powerful stories. Filled with an ensemble cast, heart- rendering performances, and an engrossing storyline, this movie will keep audiences glued to their chair and also carry on the legacy of the Washington family and August Wilson.