Malcolm Washington on the 'Personal' Experience of MakingThe Piano Lessonwith Dad Denzel and His Siblings (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Denzel Washington in Los Angeles on March 7, 2022; Malcolm and John David Washington at a screening ofThe Piano Lessonduring the Telluride Film Festival on Aug. 31, 2024, in Telluride, Colorado.Photo:Neilson Barnard/Getty; Vivien Killilea/Getty

Neilson Barnard/Getty; Vivien Killilea/Getty

The Piano Lessonwas a family affair forMalcolm Washington.

Denzel Washington’s youngest son debuted his first studio feature film,The Piano Lesson, at the Telluride Film Festival Saturday, Aug. 31. By his side wasJohn David Washington, who stars in the film, and sister Katia Washington, 37, who produces.

“This movie is so personal to me, and the people that I got to make it with are the closest people in my life,” Malcolm, 33, tells PEOPLE in Telluride, CO. “My mom was at the center of it.”

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From L: John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Potts and Ray Fisher inThe Piano Lesson(2024).David Lee/Netflix

David Lee/Netflix

Based onAugust Wilson’s 1987 play of the same name,The Piano Lessonsees the return of several cast members from its most recent2022 Broadway revival, including Jackson, 75, and John David.

While Denzel, 69, does not appear in the film, his connection to Wilson’s work served as a through-line for the production, says Malcolm. A longtime proponent of Wilson’s work, Denzel earned Tony and Oscar nominations forFences(which he starred in and directed) and broughtMa Rainey’s Black Bottomto the screen as a producer in 2020.

“August Wilson is such a big part of his legacy and he feels so strongly connected and upholding the kind of reverence and giving access to August Wilson’s stories,” Malcolm tells PEOPLE. “So I think for my Dad, throughout the whole process, his thing was like, ‘We’re just going to respect and protect and take care of August.’ I think that the gravity of that was always through every part of the production and it was always at the center of what we were trying to do creatively.”

Staying mostly out of view during production, Denzel made a rare appearance as they shotThe Piano Lesson’sintense exorcism scene — which happened to occur during a “crazy thunderstorm,” notes Malcolm.

“I’ve been on a couple sets with him before growing up and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him have a moment like that,” says John David, noting “how moved he was from what they were doing.”

Adds Deadwyler of Denzel’s approach as a producer: “I just found that really beautiful and respectful. He allowed [Malcolm] to just be everybody’s leader and it was the most serene kind of experience in that way.”

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Malcolm Washington, Danielle Deadwyler and John David Washington at a screening ofThe Piano Lessonduring the Telluride Film Festival on Aug. 31, 2024, in Telluride, Colorado.Vivien Killilea/Getty

Vivien Killilea/Getty

The movie features additional performances fromErykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Jerrika Hinton, Gail Bean andCorey Hawkins. Two-time Oscar winner Alexandre Desplat composed the music. Michael Potts also appears inThe Piano Lesson, after acting in the Broadway revival.

Malcolm’s twin sister Olivia is also featured in a cameo, as is Pauletta.

The 51st Telluride Film Festival runs through Monday, Sept. 2

source: people.com