The voice you hear is not my speaking voice, but my mind’s voice. I have not spoken since I was six years old. No one knows why. Not even me.

I like to be able to project myself into the parts. Being a woman, I like to therefore have heroines. We don’t have many, you know? So I feel like it’s my job. Not a crusade – just a natural thing to want to do. — Jane Campion

Twenty years on, the 1990s’ most original costume drama remains perfectly in tune. What on paper sounds overly precious and mannered — a feminist fable about a mute obsessed with tinkling the ivories — is instead richly cinematic and layered with meaning. — Simon Kinnear

The Piano deserves its place as a classic. — Matt Mueller