Two Pianos

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Two Pianos

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1h 55m

Drama

Romance

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Popcornmeter

77%

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22 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

After years of self-imposed exile, pianist Mathias (François Civil) returns to France, where his former mentor, Eléna (Charlotte Rampling), has invited him to perform a series of concerts with her in his hometown of Lyon. Once a rising star of the French musical scene and Eléna's prized pupil, Mathias has spent many years teaching and performing in Japan. Soon after his arrival, a chance encounter with a child who looks just like him throws Mathias into turmoil, threatening to drag him down, and leads him back to his first love, Claude (Nadia Tereszkiewicz). French master Arnaud Desplechin (My Sex Life..., A Christmas Tale) returns to some of his favorite themes -- psychologically charged homecomings and unexpected reunions (romantic and otherwise) -- in this sensual, Hitchcockian melodrama featuring one of Rampling's most delicious roles in years.

Richard Brody

The New Yorker

3d

It finds Desplechin at the height of his creative energy, and the vigor of the filming is undeniable -- but it reflects Desplechin’s affinity for the story, and his delight in unfolding it, with an efficiency that’s disguised as fullness.

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Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

May 1

3.5/4

The main characters in 'Two Pianos’ are mostly disasters …But they all have redeeming qualities, and their brokenness makes them impossible to hate.

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Ben Kenigsberg

New York Times

Apr 30

Lately Desplechin has been in a bit of a rut with critics, and this modest drama, less sprawling than much of his work, feels like an effort to reconnect with the madness of his early films. That’s a compliment.

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Rick Hong

Film Threat

3d

6/10

Unfortunately, when it comes to Rampling, her character’s storyline concludes midway through Two Pianos, just as the Claude and Mathias storyline begins to take center stage.

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Alan Zilberman

Spectrum Culture

6d

3/5

Desplechin never makes it easy – not for his characters, not for his audience and certainly not for himself. A lot of other recent character dramas seem inert in comparison.

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Sarah Manvel

Movies We Texted About

May 8

Does the very rare trick of hitting the standard movie marks in fresh and unexpected ways. This is a movie about adults, by which is meant there’s a frankness about human weakness that’s becoming rare in cinema.

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Martin C

May 1

Tale of a self pitying, self centered jerk who can’t get over some lost love. Apparently very talented he returns to Lyon, and proceeds to self destruct and make everyone who knows him miserable. If you enjoy such stories this movie is for you.

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Moody C

@MoodyC May 6

Feels like a really long & slow soap opera but with excellent production quality & an equally strong script. France looks beautiful here with beautiful actors & timeless classical scores but feels just a tad long & slow without anything really happening. There is some mystery & intrigue in beginning but after reveal midway it just dragged on forever. It’s a story about a free spirited guy who doesn’t wanna commit to anything permanent & those who are close to him knowing this fact. Somewat bittersweet endling.

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Arnaud Desplechin

Director

François Civil

Mathias

Nadia Tereszkiewicz

Claude

Charlotte Rampling

Elena

Hippolyte Girardot

Max

Alba Gaïa Kraghede Bellugi

Judith

Two Pianos: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

After years of self-imposed exile, pianist Mathias (François Civil) returns to France, where his former mentor, Eléna (Charlotte Rampling), has invited him to perform a series of concerts with her in his hometown of Lyon. Once a rising star of the French musical scene and Eléna's prized pupil, Mathias has spent many years teaching and performing in Japan. Soon after his arrival, a chance encounter with a child who looks just like him throws Mathias into turmoil, threatening to drag him down, and leads him back to his first love, Claude (Nadia Tereszkiewicz). French master Arnaud Desplechin (My Sex Life..., A Christmas Tale) returns to some of his favorite themes -- psychologically charged homecomings and unexpected reunions (romantic and otherwise) -- in this sensual, Hitchcockian melodrama featuring one of Rampling's most delicious roles in years.

Director: Arnaud Desplechin
Producer: Pascal Caucheteux
Screenwriter: Arnaud Desplechin, Kamen Velkovsky
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Production Co: Why Not Productions, arte France Cinéma
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): May 1, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 16, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.3K
Runtime: 1h 55m
Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1