In the well-crafted French melodrama Two Pianos, concert pianist Matthias (three-time César nominee Francois Civil) returns to his hometown of Lyon after a decade abroad. Matthias is already in a mid-career malaise, but things get more complicated when he re-encounters his formidable mentor Elena (Charlotte Rampling) and his best friend’s wife Claude (Nadia Tereszkiewicz). Matthias, who had dated Claude just before his self-exile, is further rocked when he sees that her ten-year-old son looks exactly like him. A well-crafted melodrama ensues, albeit one with unconventional turns.
Two Pianos is the latest from French director Arnaud Desplechin, who made the delightful My Golden Days, which I loved, and then Ismael’s Ghosts, which although it was generally favorable critical buzz, I loathed. Desplechin has received uneven notices for his recent narrative features. He co-wrote Two Pianos.
The plot of Two Pianos pivots on an unforeshadowed surprise which clears the way for a conventional ending, which Desplechin thankfully avoids. This plot point is so unabashedly convenient that some viewers have found it off-putting. I uneasily went with it and was relieved when Desplechin steered the story away from what would have been corny.
Civil has the challenge of playing a protagonist of uncertain will, who spends much of his screen time hand-wringing and naval gazing. The audience will see that, in contrast to Matthias’ dithering, all of the female characters know exactly what they want – the iron-willed Elena, Matthias’ unsentimental mother (Anne Kessler), Claude’s bestie Judith (Alba Gaia Bellugi) and, eventually, even the vulnerable and temperamental Claude.
Nadia Tereszkiewicz has a sexy magnetism and a feral unpredictability that serves her well in Two Pianos and in the underappreciated Only the Animals.
Charlotte Rampling is a treasure, and her performance as the exacting Elena is one of the pleasure of Two Pianos.
I especially appreciated that the story is set in Lyon, a city underrepresented in cinema. Lyon, after all, is the third largest city in France and the place where Parisian foodies go to experience the best of French cuisine. It’s a wonderful city.
I screened Two Pianos for the 2026 SFFILM festival. It opens in theaters this weekend.