I saw this movie around 15 years ago, maybe more.  It takes place in China (I think, it was so long ago it’s hard to recall for sure, definitely an Asian film though, with a lot of red in the set dec and costuming).  I think the time period was in the late 18/early 1900’s.

In it, a young woman who loves playing the piano is arranged to marry a young man (possibly of minor nobility) who comes from a family with a lot of wealth.  She is also from a good background, but this marriage is advantageous for her family.  Upon meeting the young man (I don’t think she knows at this point that he is to be her betrothed), she is disgusted by his lack of manners and poise, and in a later scene she makes fun of his eating habits to her friends.

She ends up being forced into marrying him, and their relationship is very rocky. To spite her (I’m not sure how far into the film this happens), her husband locks away her piano and forbids her to play.  If I remember correctly she ends up breaking the door down with an axe in order to play it.  Then at some point later, her husband arranges to have the piano moved by some sort or winch rope system, and crashes it in the middle of their courtyard (I remember this being on purpose, but it may have been a mistake).

That’s all I can remember, but I recall it being a beautiful film and I’d love to be able to see it again!

Thanks all!