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They Shot the Piano Player

Play trailer 1:43 Poster for They Shot the Piano Player PG-13 2023 1h 43m Drama Music Animation Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
79% Tomatometer 48 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
A New York music journalist goes on a quest to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of young Brazilian piano virtuoso Tenorio Jr. A celebratory origin story of the world-renowned Latino musical movement Bossa Nova, They Shot The Piano Player captures a fleeting time bursting with creative freedom at a turning point in Latin American history in the 60s and 70s, just before the continent was engulfed by totalitarian regimes.
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They Shot the Piano Player

They Shot the Piano Player

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Critics Consensus

They Shot the Piano Player presents a moving look at a fascinating true story, although its aesthetic inventiveness isn't matched by its narrative approach.

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Critics Reviews

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Sergio Burstein Los Angeles Times Mar 27, 2024
The experimentation sometimes loses its rhythm, but both good music and emotional impacts are absolutely guaranteed. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Bill Goodykoontz Arizona Republic Mar 8, 2024
4/5
Mariscal and Trueba unspool the story like a mystery. Go to Full Review Odie Henderson Boston Globe Mar 8, 2024
3.5/4
"They Shot the Piano Player" is a tribute to the musician and to those who knew him best. See it more than once, and hope the theater plays it loud. Go to Full Review Rita Di Santo Morning Star (UK) 1 day ago
10/10
a masterpiece of inventive animated fantasy Go to Full Review Monita Roy Mohan Women Write About Comics Aug 20, 2025
They Shot the Piano Player is beautiful, the music sublime, but it’s not an easy watch... More importantly, it puts into perspective the impact that politics and international interference has on art and the things we love. Go to Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension Jul 9, 2025
They Shot the Piano Player is nearly as much a film about the origins of bossa nova as it is about Tenório Jr. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Henrietta Mar 31, 2024 I loved the animation and color. I loved the music. I got a little tired of yet another person to listen to and read translation for, but I will see this film again. Very important for us to be forewarned about what can happen when a dictator takes over. Very good to find out about a person I had never heard of glad to know him now. See more Oaklee D @ODie63 Jul 6, 2025 A thoroughly interesting true story turned into an animated film See more John M @RT37759539 Aug 16, 2024 THE FILM HAS INTERESTING HISTORY BUT THE DIALOGUE IS IN MOSTLY SPANISH AND PORTUGESE AND GOES SO FAST YOU MISS MOST OF IT See more Irwin F @RT04426756 Mar 31, 2024 It was ok, but not my jam. Animation was interesting. See more Read all reviews
They Shot the Piano Player

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Cast & Crew

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Fernando Trueba

Director

Javier Mariscal

Director

Jeff Goldblum

Voice

João Gilberto

Voice

Caetano Veloso

Voice

Gilberto Gil

Voice

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They Shot the Piano Player

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They Shot the Piano Player

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Movie Info

Synopsis A New York music journalist goes on a quest to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of young Brazilian piano virtuoso Tenorio Jr. A celebratory origin story of the world-renowned Latino musical movement Bossa Nova, They Shot The Piano Player captures a fleeting time bursting with creative freedom at a turning point in Latin American history in the 60s and 70s, just before the continent was engulfed by totalitarian regimes.
Director
Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal
Producer
Cristina Huete, Serge Lalou, Sophie Cabon, Bruno Felix, Janneke van de Kerkhof, Femke Wolting, Humberto Santana
Screenwriter
Fernando Trueba
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Fernando Trueba Producciones Cinematográficas, Les Films d'ici Méditerranée, Prima Linea Productions, Gao Shan Pictures, Submarine, Constellation Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Smoking and Some Violence)
Genre
Drama, Music, Animation, Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 6, 2023, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA)
$59.6K
Runtime
1h 43m
Aspect Ratio
Digital 2.39:1
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