An unusual erotic drama with some striking visuals (but too little story and dramatic movement) about a strong-willed but mute Scottish widow (Holly Hunter) who travels to 19th-century New Zealand for an arranged marriage with a landowner (Sam Neill).

He refuses to bring her beloved piano up from the beach and it falls into the hands of Baines (Harvey Keitel), his construction manager, who has 'gone native'.

Neill proves a cold husband who can't bring himself to touch his wife, while Keitel can't wait to get his hands on her, exacting sexual favours in return for her earning back the piano key by key.

All this is pretty weird and only marginally convincing, especially with Keitel adopting an all-purpose Limey accent to cope with dialogue that sounds fascinating but not like things people would actually say.

After a slow start, the film picks up and unreels like a silent drama, producing some stunning images towards the end when the murky colour process work will allow.

Oscar-winner Hunter is wonderfully expressive and does her own piano playing.

Sexually direct, the film has some explicit scenes. Not as good, though, as it (or the Oscar voters) thought.