By John Corrado

Netflix has released the first trailer for The Piano Lesson, one of their big awards contenders that will be screening at TIFF next month. The film is produced by Denzel Washington, and is the latest in his series of film adaptations of August Wilson plays, following the Oscar-winning films Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Fences.

This adaptation of Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play is directed by Denzel’s son Malcolm Washington, and stars his other son John David Washington, who leads a cast that includes Danielle Deadwyler and Samuel L. Jackson. I’m sure they will deliver powerhouse performances in the 1930s-set drama, with Jackson already gaining Oscar buzz to receive his second nomination. At least from the images in the trailer, the stage adaptation also looks more cinematic than I was expecting.

I’ll try to fit this one into my schedule at TIFF. The film opens in select theatres on November 8th, before coming to Netflix on November 22nd. The trailer and official synopsis is below. Feel free to comment your thoughts if you have watched it!

“A battle is brewing in the Charles Household. At the center stands a prized heirloom piano tearing two siblings apart. On one side, a brother (John David Washington) plans to build the family fortune by selling it. On the other, a sister (Danielle Deadwyler) will go to any lengths to hold onto the sole vestige of the family’s heritage. Their uncle (Samuel L. Jackson) tries to mediate, but even he can’t hold back the ghosts of the past.

Adapted from August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork, THE PIANO LESSON explores the intergenerational dynamics of identity, resilience and transcendence – revealing startling truths about how we perceive the past and who gets to define our legacy. The film is directed and co-written by Malcolm Washington in his feature directorial debut. From Oscar nominated producers Denzel Washington and Todd Black, and featuring an all-star cast including Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu with Danielle Deadwyler and Corey Hawkins.”