They Shot the Piano Player

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1:43

They Shot the Piano Player

PG-13

2023

1h 43m

Drama

Music

Animation

Musical

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

47 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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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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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]

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Bill Goodykoontz

Arizona Republic

Mar 8, 2024

4/5

Mariscal and Trueba unspool the story like a mystery.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Jose Solís

Common Sense Media

Aug 27, 2024

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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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.

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Oaklee D

@ODie63 Jul 6, 2025

A thoroughly interesting true story turned into an animated film

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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

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Irwin F

@RT04426756 Mar 31, 2024

It was ok, but not my jam. Animation was interesting.

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Fernando Trueba

Director

Javier Mariscal

Director

Jeff Goldblum

Voice

João Gilberto

Voice

Caetano Veloso

Voice

Gilberto Gil

Voice

They Shot the Piano Player: Trailer 1

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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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