Maestro Milos makes a masterpiece
Friday, December 5, 2014
Milos Forman pulled off a challenging task in taking the story about a classical composer and making it cinematically vibrant and relevant for contemporary audiences. Indeed, "Amadeus" stands up, 30 years later, as a riveting interpretation of Mozart's life and passion. Here is some conclusions our CineVerse group reached on this picture:
WHAT
IS INTERESTING AND UNEXPECTED ABOUT THIS FILM?
·
The
way it depicts a genius like Mozart as very coarse, vulgar, childish and human.
·
It’s
actually more of Salieri’s story, with him serving as the narrator and telling
the story in flashback; this is almost like a psychological confessional, as if
he were the patient on the couch and we were the therapist listening to his
secrets.
·
This
is not meant to be historically accurate: for example, it is widely believed
that Mozart died of rheumatic fever; here, Salieri is suggested to be a revenge-driven
snake with murder in his heart. Yet, the fact that the story is told in
flashback by an older and possibly insane narrator lets the filmmakers off the
hook—he is not necessarily a reliable narrator.
·
The
casting of Tom Hulce, perhaps best known prior to this for appearing in “Animal
House,” was a surprise to many; he pulls off the role quite well, perhaps
because he has an impish, boyish face and no haughty English accent—making
Mozart more likeable and identifiable to viewers.
·
The
movie doesn’t look or feel like a stodgy, traditional biopic or historical
costume drama in its cinematic approach: it employs fast cuts, clever editing,
and complex flashback-infused storytelling to tell its fairly chronologically
progressive but also unconventionally nonlinear story.
WHAT
THEMES ARE AT WORK IN AMADEUS?
·
Cain
vs. Abel: this is a tale about a good
seed contrasted against a bad seed who is jealous and harbors evil thoughts
·
The
struggle of the superego (Salieri, who is bound by convention and tradition)
vs. the id (Mozart, who follows his base instincts but also doesn’t feel
confined by what is expected of him in society or musically)
·
The
conflict between Apollonian and Dionysian elements: the former follows measured
restraint and tact (Salieri) while the latter pursues hedonistic ecstasies. In
this way, Mozart is Salieri’s alter ego, personifying al the desires, talents
and passions that Salieri lacks; conversely, Salieri has the manners, respect
and modesty and gift for diplomacy that his rival lacks.
·
This
is a study in many contrasts: between
genius and mediocrity, passion and sobriety, light and dark (consider how
Mozart has light hair and is often shown in the light, while Salieri dresses in
darker garb)
FILMS
THAT AMADEUS REMINDS US OF:
·
Immortal
Beloved
·
A
Song to Remember and Impromptu, both about the composer/pianist Chopin
·
Eroica
·
Mahler
·
Shine
·
Lisztomania
OTHER
FILMS BY MILOS FORMAN
·
One
Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
·
Ragtime
·
The People Vs. Larry Flint
·
Man
on the Moon