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Madame Sousatzka

Play trailer Poster for Madame Sousatzka PG-13 1988 2h 1m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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78% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
In London, eccentric piano instructor Madame Sousatzka (Shirley MacLaine) takes on a new prize protégé, Manek (Navin Chowdhry), a teenage Bengali immigrant who displays incredible talent. Manek forms a close bond with his teacher, but soon discovers that she expects her pupils to become disciplined in all areas of life, and not just behind the piano. As he struggles to meet the challenges, Manek must also deal with his mother (Shabana Azmi), who vies with his teacher for his attentions.
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Madame Sousatzka

Critics Reviews

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Janet Maslin New York Times 05/20/2003
3/5
It's as affectionate, big-hearted and creaky as any film that ever graced Radio City Music Hall, with leisureliness and dime-store philosophizing to match. Go to Full Review Desson Thomson Washington Post 01/01/2000
As charming and fanciful as it is impossible to pigeonhole. Go to Full Review Rita Kempley Washington Post 01/01/2000
An intimate and amusing adaptation of Bernice Rubens' novel. Go to Full Review Jo MacFarlane Sojourner 09/11/2019
MacLaine gives a gutsy performance in Sousatzka. Go to Full Review Cathy Burke United Press International 10/10/2016
Madame Sousatzka is a perfect one-woman show, and this show belongs to its star, Shirley MacLaine. Go to Full Review Lori Hoffman Atlantic City Weekly 03/16/2007
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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Steve D 07/12/2020 It's really boring, and the performances are just ok. See more 04/24/2016 good bio-pic of sorts. See more 10/26/2012 A piano teacher and a prodigy's mother vie for the pupil's devotion. In the canon of teacher films, this provides a new category, the pedagogy of self-abnegation. Madame Sausatzka has an unfortunate string of pupils who learn from her then leave her. During their instruction she uses the basic tough love methods that we've come to expect from films of this ilk, and like <i>To Sir with Love</i>, which is the ultimate tough-love educator film, she forms an emotional bond with her students. But when she's left, she feels emptier, like a jilted lover. The film doesn't condemn her teaching methods; in fact it celebrates them because she emerges as an educator-hero, one who has sacrificed for the greater good. I don't like the message, but I think it's interesting. Shirley MacLaine gives a very good performance, an abrasive attitude mixed with an inner pain. Navin Chowdhry is also very good, giving one of the better performance I've seen from a child actor. The film's plot unfolds slowly, and it isn't until late in the second act that its pedagogical philosophy becomes clear. I also had no idea what was going on with the house in which Sousatzka was entrenched; I got that it was condemned or something, but the specifics of the problem and its solution failed to be a compelling plotline. Also, the subplot between Manek and Jenny was poorly set up. Overall, I didn't like a lot about how the film was structured, but its basic idea is quite interesting. See more 08/24/2012 I guess I missed the part where I was supposed to care at all. See more 12/17/2011 A must see for the musically obsessed. Shirley is a gem of an actress. The storyline was a perfection in itself. Wish I could give it 10 out of 5 stars See more 04/01/2011 not really my kind of movie...but a very nice acting by miss maclaine See more Read all reviews
Madame Sousatzka

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Cast & Crew

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John Schlesinger

Director

Shirley MacLaine

Madame Yuvline Sousatzka

Navin Chowdhry

Manek Sen

Peggy Ashcroft

Lady Emily

Twiggy

Jenny

Shabana Azmi

Sushila Sen

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Madame Sousatzka

Madame Sousatzka (1988) Madame Sousatzka (1988) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In London, eccentric piano instructor Madame Sousatzka (Shirley MacLaine) takes on a new prize protégé, Manek (Navin Chowdhry), a teenage Bengali immigrant who displays incredible talent. Manek forms a close bond with his teacher, but soon discovers that she expects her pupils to become disciplined in all areas of life, and not just behind the piano. As he struggles to meet the challenges, Manek must also deal with his mother (Shabana Azmi), who vies with his teacher for his attentions.
Director
John Schlesinger
Producer
Robin Dalton
Screenwriter
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, John Schlesinger
Production Co
Cineplex Odeon Films
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 14, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.9M
Runtime
2h 1m
Sound Mix
Surround
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