The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes: C
Every year I pick an "artsy" film to go to because a). I believe that that's one of the reasons to go to a film festival and b) I'm a perennial optimist and hold out hope that one year I will actually "get it". Not this year.
TPTOE is deeply and unabashedly visually interesting to look at. The Quay brothers made a visually delightful film. But the plot was lost on me. Mad Scientist plots to kidnap Opera Singer so she can star in Mad Scientist Opera on Mad Scientist Island. Opera Singer kidnapped and whisked away to Mad Scientist Island. Mad Scientist hires Piano Tuner who a) tunes automatons that show vignettes of progressing film and b) plays role in Mad Scientist Opera. Turns out Mad Scientist Opera is an operatic re-enactment of initial kidnapping scene of Opera Singer. Piano Tuner and Opera Singer end up trapped in an automaton.
I admit it .. I'm a hick and didn't get it. Also, I feel there was one layer of the sound track missing. People in the film kept referring to "haunting music" and "beautiful singing". I never heard it. But the best thing about TPTOE is the "Is this the real forest" line!