Dearest Mary- Your awaited response- Even though there may have been a main port city in New Zealand-I got the impression that the place where they landed was the closest landing to where her husband lived-there was no other better form of transportation-as you saw when the natives were carrying the luggage up the mountain. There was no way of notifying her husband sooner that she was there-the men who brought them knew the receiving party was on their way, right? Hunter's character does not speak simply because she had preferred not to since childhood. thePiano was her way of expressing joy, aggravation, etc. It also made all who were around her pay attention to her, as I'm sure women of that day were though of as more commodoties than people, she also commanded respect that way. I saw Harvey Keitel as more of a middleman in negotiations, than anything. I believe he had the tattoo to be respected by the natives-and it seems as though it might have been a tattoo of endearment and acceptance as well seems as though it might have been a tattoo of endearment and acceptance as well (sorry) I think Hunter's finger was chopped off to prevent her from having any further relations with Keitel and to let Keitel know in a savage manner to knock it off so to speak (the relations). Did you at least enjoy and appreciate her dive into the ocean at the end? That was a beautiful scene..:). Perhaps go see the movie again with a mind focused on objectivity, get into the character, relax. :) --Chris