I was feeling horny, read that this is an exotic, artsy film, thought I'd give it a try, because I like movies about teachers, older-younger relationships, and forbidden love.
MyMovieRomance, I'm astonished that you call this "filth" when you admit that you were seeking more or less soft-core porn, which is what many of us would consider filth not because of sexual content but because it's just exploitation it has no emotional or intellectual or psychological honesty.
This is not about love
You're absolutely right. But nothing in the promos or the synopsis suggested that it would be.
This movie makes clear that humans are an extremely complex mix of light and dark, and that when we fail to acknowledge that truth we do a lot of damage. Erika hasn't found a healthy way to deal with her rage, aggression, and pain just like 90% of the world, which is why humans are still struggling with war, poverty, addiction, bullying, and all other forms of displaced aggression.
"All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind of people."

Art can be disturbing sometimes, sorry.

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!!THE FOLLOWING MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!
You're totally right, the film is filth and disgust being passed off as art. But, it's not art at all. It's one of the most disturbing films I've ever seen and I hated it!
I'll be honest, the only reason I watched it was because I was feeling horny, read that this is an exotic, artsy film, thought I'd give it a try, because I like movies about teachers, older-younger relationships, and forbidden love. And, seeing as this film supposedly contained those elements, I thought I might like it. But, since I'm a romantic above all, I just hated this film! This is not about loveit's not even erotic! It's grotesque! Becauseand this is the kickerthere was nothing AND I MEAN NOTHING! likable about the main character! She is a disgrace of a person! And, what's worse is that she ended up being even more unlikable than at the beginning! If she ended up a nice person near the end, my feelings for this film might have been different. But, I can't like a movie about a callous nut-job like her, especially when it involves love and sex! And, the fact that her boy-toy ended up disturbed tooand brutalwas nothing less than awful!
This film is gross filth! Oh, and did I mention that she tries to make-out with her own mother at one point? Yup. This film is pure garbage.
The only good thing about it might be that the people who might be able to relate to her struggles (though hopefully not act like she did) will feel a bit understood when seeing this film.
Please excuse typos/funny wording; I use speech-recognition that doesn't always recognize!

What sex scene happened in the first 30 minutes? I don't recall one.
I'm a fountain of blood
In the shape of a girl

Maybe I watched a different version to you, but I don't remember any disgusting sex scenes within the first 30 minutes.

I was repulsed by the film also. Who can forget the gratuitous hockey scene. It made me want to puke too. Cache and White Ribbon are wonderful even great films, but this film is just plain rubbish. This is probably the most abusive, most disturbing film I've seen since Salo:120 Days of Sodom. I will never watch that film again but at least I respect that film as being a great work of art eventhough I despise it. But this film has no redeeming artistic merit whatsoever. I'm not surprised that he admired Pasolini's work. So did Greenaway, but you don't here about him very much these days.

Understandable, this film is not to everyone's tastes. Those who bashed you here are complete morons.

I don't understand why everyone is so dismissive about people and their opinions if it doesn't favor the film. If someone came here and said "This movie was great!", nobody would ask him/her to explain. If someone says it sucked it would be nice to know why, but theres no reason to come with hostility towards the person for just stating how they felt about the movie.
IMO, the movie was weird and twisted but that was the intent. The piano teacher was a total bitch and I don't understand why her student would want her in the first place but maybe he himself has S and M tendencies that she brought out of him at the end. I felt bad for her because theres nothing wrong with thinking and wanting something, as long as it's done safely and with someone who shares the same desire. It got all screwed up because she didn't want to explain to him about her fantasies and just thought writing it all down would help. Instead, he was disgusted and then confused and ending up raping her. And then with her crazy azz mother.this movie was a trip and a half. But I did hate the ending. No conclusion for me.
"Boom Kitty!!"

I would think after the summary of the movie it would be a clue if its your cup a tea or not. It's performances are more powerful than any real violence, like most of his movies they seem to not have any real beginning to end formula just a slice out of the life of the characters or so hidden message. I am not a fan of violence when its just there for no reason but sometimes its crucial to the reality of the film. If you want a real movie it has to feel real. Maybe you dont like feeling like the characters he displays but you cant say it wasnt as close to real performances as anyone can imagine. I am glad I watched the film to get a view on a world I would never want to be in and maybe not to just write off people wired wrong from the beginning but most of all that all people deserve love.
I loved the line I want the same thing you want in reference to love or her version of it.

It's not for everyone.
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You turned it off after 30 minutes? So get the hell off this board. Who are you to say anything? Get lost.
you wanna see some WICKED, WICKEDLY AWESOME STUFF?:
www.trikeaband.com

Oh yeah! OY, OY, OY, OY!
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=7917401 - Vote History

Actually,
the scene where Erika watches porn is in the first 30 minutes.
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Could you explain how it's trash?
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=7917401 - Vote History

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There was no sex in the first 30 minutes.
All of the sex scenes were in the latter part of the film. And if you did turn it off at the 30 minutes you missed a treat.
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=7917401 - Vote History

She didn't have a bruise. She had a bloody nose.
you wanna see some WICKED, WICKEDLY AWESOME STUFF?:
www.trikeaband.com

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This is no foolish "escapism" like 99% of Hollywood crap. People accustomed to watch ONLY pop-corn flicks may find this movie at least disturbing because it dares to show what happens behind the door of certain homes.
Besides repressed people, religious zealots, conservative ppl most likely won't enjoy this flick or perhaps they will enjoy it a lot! but won't have the courage to admit it.
You never know what happens inside the head of people like Erika Kohut (The piano teacher) who apparently is a very conservative and self-righteous lady when actually his mind is full with the kinkiest and nastiest thoughts.
Just my 2 cents.

Wow you love stereotypes!!! Everything bad on the internet is a characteristic of Americans? First of all that sentence makes no sense, it should be: everything bad on the Internet is a RESULT of Americans. Or even an INFLUENCE of Americans. Secondly, I have gotten like 20 viruses from other countries. The worst thing on the Internet in my opinion is viruses. Bored beep who have nothing else better to do with their time. Kind of like you! And these sex scenes were not that disgusting IMO; this person is just a prude or sheltered and it has nothing to do with what country they are from. You are just assuming they are American, kind of like I'm assuming you are a douchebag. I'm more likely to be right though

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@ichbinsisyphos:
would you stop playing the "I hate America" card? it gets pretty boring and irritating after a while. Your comment is totally irrelevant to the poster's opinion.
@thread:
I do admit that some of the scenes were disturbing but you shouldn't be too worried about it. If anything i think Michael Heneke purposely but those scenes in to accurately fit the plot and to show how disturbed the protagonist really is. Also, i feel that the director was trying to get the film in touch with reality as much as possible. There are really people like that in this world and remember real life is never censored. The film was a great one but i don't think it would've been as powerful without the sex scenes (i.e the rape scene, etc.) which moved me to tears.