Produced by Denzel Washington and directed by and starring his sons, Malcolm and John David, this scintillating adaptation centers on a piano that becomes a symbol of both opportunity and oppression.

At heart, August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” is a ghost story. Set in 1930s Pittsburgh (other than a brief prologue in 1911 Mississippi), it’s the story of the Charles family, literally haunted by memories represented by an ornate upright piano.

The Piano Lesson is not only an excellent adaptation of its source material but also one of the most auspicious first features in recent memory.