Parents' Guide to

They Shot the Piano Player

Movie PG-13 2023 104 minutes
They Shot the Piano Player Movie Poster: Animated people play instruments

Common Sense Media Review

Jose Solis By Jose Solis , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Animated historical docu with violence, lots of smoking.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

age 15+

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This historical documentary might not appeal to all teens, but those who are interested will be rewarded. Directors Fernando Trueba and Javier Marsical last explored the beauty of Latin American music through animation in Chico and Rita, which told a sumptuous love story set against the backdrop of pre-Revolution Cuba. In They Shot the Piano Player, they reunite and use their expressive animation to tell the story of bossa nova pianist Tenório Jr., who disappeared under mysterious circumstances following a performance in 1976 Buenos Aires.


Part murder mystery (Tenório Jr. was allegedly tortured and murdered by the Argentinean dictatorship), part celebration of bossa nova and its great influence in pop music, the filmmakers deliver a touching work of art that doesn't always succeed in fulfilling its promises (we never find out what really happened to Tenório) but makes up for it by taking us back to a moment in time when global musical genres were transcending geographical limitations and inspiring the world to dance. Infused with profound melancholy, the film might appeal more to parents, but its passionate storytelling might spark curiosity in younger viewers who will undoubtedly find how bossa nova influenced some of the music they jam to today.

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