Self-Expressed Love

The 1993 film started its setting in a 1850s environment where one mute Scotswoman, Ada McGrath, had her piano as one of her priced possessions. Since she was mute, she used the piano as a means of showing expressions, she was also using hand signs to express herself too. Ada has a daughter named Flora, she was the one who interprets what her mother wanted to say most of the times. It was unclear as to what happend to the biological father of Flora, but it was shown that it was irrelevant. As her father sold Ada to a fixed marriage in New Zealand, to a frontiersman, Alistair Stewart, she brought with her her daughter and her beloved piano. As they landed in the beach of New Zealend the crew had objections about them then they deposited the belongings of Ada and Flora as well as her piano. Then Alistair arrives with his crew and Baines, a former sailor, to pick up Ada and Flora. But they could only carry so much, so they left some things behind, including the piano. Ada wanted the piano to be brought but Alistair continues to defy her. Then Ada asks Baines to bring the piano for her, Baines agree but for one condition, she could get the piano back in exchange of piano lessons for himself to be taught by Ada. Ada agrees, then she and Baines took the lessons together, then Baines and Ada found themselves fond of each other. Alistair starts to doubt the two, so he confronts Ada. She then says no, but deep inside Ada, she is falling for Baines. Alistair later found out about the truth of the two thanks to Flora, and sends a piece of his mind into the fingers to Ada. He left Ada and Flora together with Baines and left them for good.
There were some scenes in the film where they showed symbols, one such is the first image you see, looked like vertical lines but later showed as Ada’s fingers. The bars showed confinement. In which she was given limited acces to everything, considering she was mute. The piano itself symbolizes Ada’s emotions and feelings. She used it in every way she can to show her true emotions and feelings. That’s why she couldnt just let go of the piano which she loved dearly.
Life is full of surprises. Things don’t always go as planned. When Ada gave Flora the piano key, she didn’t expect that Flora would betray her. Ada did not expect to fall for Baines either. Sometimes expecting something can lead to disaster, that’s why we should just let our lives do the work of uncovering those unexpected mysteries at our expense.