August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson" has left an indelible mark on both the stage and the silver screen. This film version, directed by Malcolm Washington and co-written by Virgil Williams and himself, is now streaming on Netflix, bringing Wilson's powerful story to a wider audience.

Unveiling the Haunted Past through the Lens of "The Piano Lesson"

Flashback: The Birth of a Play

In the frigid January of 1988, playwright August Wilson was found at Anne's Restaurant in Boston. It was a humble place with "Self-Service Charcoal Broiled" in neon. This was where he was revising "The Piano Lesson" for yet another tryout. The play was on its way to Broadway, but Wilson insisted the script wasn't ready. The author had forgotten about a pre-arranged appointment with the writer. However, when reminded of a past encounter at Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul, he paused and considered. It was then that he recalled a boxing match he had attended while seated in the same row as the writer. This led to a brief interaction and a shared journey down Huntington Ave. and through the streets of Boston.The play centers around a carved spinet piano that has been unused for years in the parlor of Bernie Charles's Pittsburgh home in the 1930s. Boy Willie, Bernie's brother, wants to sell the piano to buy farmland. This simple act is intertwined with a web of backstories related to slavery, racism, and the Black family's pursuit of the American dream.

Flash Forward: The Pulitzer Prize and Film Adaptation

"The Piano Lesson" earned August Wilson his second Pulitzer Prize. Now, it has been adapted into a film by Denzel Washington and his family. The film, co-produced by Denzel Washington and his daughter Katia, features the filmmaking talents of his sons Malcolm (director, writer) and John David (who plays Boy Willie and co-wrote the screenplay). According to USA Today, Washington Sr. struck a deal with Wilson's estate to produce the remaining 10 plays in Wilson's decade-by-decade cycle into feature films.The film showcases various aspects of the Black experience, from the crowded streets of hardscrabble Pittsburgh to the sharecropper's field and the old truck hauling watermelon. It moves seamlessly between the past and the present, highlighting the haunted plight of the characters.Samuel L. Jackson plays Doaker Charles in the film, providing a link to the different versions of the play. His performance adds a steadying strength, shared by the other cast members who perform with intensity and passion.The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year and had a brief theatrical run. It pays homage to August Wilson's vision of Black families, dramatizing the love/hate conflicts between individuals striving for dignity.Each scene in the film is a masterpiece, drawing the viewers into the world of "The Piano Lesson" and leaving them with a profound understanding of Wilson's message. It is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring legacy of August Wilson.