Madame Sousatzka

This movie was wonderfully written, produced and directed. A+. Easily a 3 star movie, esp if you are one of the many music persons who also play an instrument. However, I was a bit bewildered about the contribution of Twiggy and the boy's kissing her. MacLaine was outstanding!!

This movie was an extremely enjoyable experience. I loved every minute of it, even though the story itself is not much to talk about. Its really a slice of life, centering on a piano teacher and her star pupil. The pupil gets involved in the lives of the teachers' neighbors and that's the movie. It might sound boring but it is not. The characters are all sweet and kind to one another, for the most part, and have a real affection for each other too. A birthday party for Madame is a standout scene.

Shirley MacLaine does not rely on her usual mannerisms and delivers a powerful performance as Madame Sousatzka. The rest of the cast is great, too, especially Twiggy as the beautiful Jenny and Peggy Ashcroft as the landlord Lady Emily.

This is the ideal movie for a Sunday morning or when you want to be entertained by some good music surrounded by a good story.

Shirley MacLaine once said as a joke in an interview that "not more than ten people saw the movie"! Well, I am lucky to claim that I was one of the ten and rate it as my top ten movie of all time! The acting is flawless!

I own the LD copy of the movie and am hoping to see the DVD format being available soon. This is such a gem that it would be a shame if it's not released on DVD format to share with the world of what great movies are made of! One final word to describe this movie: Beautiful

Too bad there wasn't made a Madame Sousatzka II and a Madame Sousatzka III with successive students. This film does more for any plausible immortality than her laughable, daffy & wild reincarnation baubles. Sousatzka is one hell of a story, and an A+ piece of direction by John Schlesinger. They should have made it at least twice. MacLaine and the director were absolutely the very best. Doubtless her best film maybe incl the Apt.

I can see how this movie would not be for everyone. However, it worked beautifully for me. It was a wonderful contrast of a renowned piano teacher who becomes too attached to her young prodigy. The story was a wonderful juxtaposition of classical performances, along with a study of the people involved. The story develops simultaneously with the evolution of the main charactors, and the acting was first rate. You don't have to love classical piano to enjoy this, but it probably helps. It is a fine story with many layers and I give it a thumbs up.