---
product_id: 9652417
title: "The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes"
brand: "amira casargottfried johnstephen quaytimothy quay"
price: "R1539"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 4
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/9652417-the-piano-tuner-of-earthquakes
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes

**Brand:** amira casargottfried johnstephen quaytimothy quay
**Price:** R1539
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes by amira casargottfried johnstephen quaytimothy quay
- **How much does it cost?** R1539 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/9652417-the-piano-tuner-of-earthquakes)

## Best For

- amira casargottfried johnstephen quaytimothy quay enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted amira casargottfried johnstephen quaytimothy quay brand quality
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## Description

The breathtakingly beautiful and long-awaited second feature from the Brothers Quay. On the eve of her wedding, the beautiful opera singer Malvina is mysteriously killed and abducted by a malevolent Dr. Droz. Felisberto, an innocent piano tuner, is summoned to Droz's secluded villa to service his strange musical automatons. Little by little Felisberto learns of the doctor's plans to stage a "diabolical opera" and of Malvina's fate. He secretly conspires to rescue her, only to become trapped himself in the web of Droz's perverse universe. (Zeitgeist Films)

## Product Details

- **Genre:** Science Fiction & Fantasy
- **Format:** NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen, Multiple Formats, Color, Black & White, Dolby
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}));  Assumpta Serna, Gilles Gavois, Henning Peker, Emil Petrov, Stephen Quay, Regine Zimmermann, Amira Casar, Alan Passes, Timothy Quay, Thomas Schmieder, Ljubisa Gruicic, Csar Sarachu, Volker Zack, Marc Bischoff, Gottfried JohnAssumpta Serna, Gilles Gavois, Henning Peker, Emil Petrov, Stephen Quay, Regine Zimmermann, Amira Casar, Alan Passes, T…    See more
- **Language:** English, Portuguese
- **Runtime:** 1 hour and 39 minutes

## Images

![The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xty2q1P7L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Exquisite and charged dreamscape
*by S***A on July 13, 2007*

As a huge fan of the Quay's last excursion into live action filmmaking ("Institute Benjamenta") I was thrilled at the chance to see another feature from such richly textured imaginations. "Piano Tuner of Earthquakes" actually exceeded my expectations and then some. It's one of the greatest works of cinema I've ever seen.The meanings inherent in this film come only partially through the plotline. Narrative in most commercial films is the most heavily weighted element (second behind star power). What we have here is a real work of art where every element is given loving attention. This is not a literal story, it is a symbolic dreamscape with sounds, textures, gestures, facial expressions, even down to the glint of light off a glass window giving a profound numinous charge.Many viewers will find this wealth of detail overwhelming without being led by the hand with the conscious contrivance of conventional storyline. But here, the Quay's have perhaps been too compromised. Their tale is a little too clear and dialogue and voice overs too concerned with romanticized story telling (but that's my taste; I realize the general public prefers an even more linear presentation). Still this concession to popular taste doesn't detract from the essential power of it's imagery, which is considerable.The sound design stands out as one of it's most imaginative features, as textured as the visuals. Very delicate and multi-leveled, there are some astonishing passages that rival any soundtrack I've ever heard. On the other hand there are a couple of themes that are too prominent (a Spanish-style melody played on electric guitar and a "Vertigo"-like love theme).All together this film distills the essences the Quay brothers have been exploring throughout their career and presents these essences in a glorious ripened form of an adult myth. There's a palpable sensual power here of longings and obsessions that build to a thick swelling of contradictory passions. These conflicted subterranean passions lead to the final earthquake, an upheaval where the opera theater and it's players collapse inward.This is NOT a film for everyone. The viewer must participate in deciphering; it's deeper meanings are not simply stated. It's a challenging experience and many will not want that in their film viewing. However, if you are intrigued by dreams and surreal imagery, you should definitely see this film, it stands among the greatest ever made!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Alternative Tuning
*by T***N on December 21, 2007*

The Quay brothers are probably best known for their work in pop music videos, and it is a bit ironic that their contribution to Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer is simultaneously their most-viewed endeavor and the one they themselves are least satisfied with. "The Piano Player of Earthquakes" is an avant-gard film of great sensitivity, creativity and innovation. Despite their mastery of computer and model-generated animation, they remain emotive artists fully-cognitive of the history of cinema, which expresses itself in everything from the props, the lighting, the stylized dialogue, the costumes, and the wonderful animation. The Quay brothers remain brilliant and at the top of their form.A word of warning: this is NOT a "Hollywood" film and the plot is not linear; at times the visual operates independent of the dialogue. I found this intriguing and engaged me to actively follow along using all of my senses. I turned off the little voice in my head that asked, "Why did he say that? Where is this going?" and enjoyed watching this film. If you always watch the bloated Hollywood type film you might not enjoy this work but then again, why not see something different? Why not expand your idea of what makes for brilliant cinema and see something which is unique? In "Piano Tuner of Earthquakes" there is a delicate balance between visual art, (excellent) acting, poetic dialogue and haunting, evocative music.The interview with the Quay brothers is a great bonus on this DVD. I learned a lot about the problems they faced and overcame in making this film, as well as insight into their individual contributions, which has puzzled me because they are of course identical twins and know each other so well -- completing each other's sentences. They are great artists who have fearlessly continued to make engaging filmic art. "The Piano Player of Earthquakes."

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Stars
*by O***A on March 10, 2015*

incredible movie

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*Product available on Desertcart South Africa*
*Store origin: ZA*
*Last updated: 2026-03-16*