Film review: Amadeus

Genre: period drama

Directed by: Milos Forman

Starring: F. Murray Abraham; Tom Hulce; Elisabeth Berridge

Music by: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Antonio Salieri

Realise date: September 19, 1984

Running time: 161 minutes

Amadeus is a period drama about the rivalry between two famous composers of the 18th century: Mozart and Salieri. The Italian composer, Antonio Salieri, is threatened by the genius of the young Mozart who has recently arrived at Vienna where he will compose some of his masterworks for Emperor Joseph II. In order to save his reputation, Salieri will try to hinder his rival’s career by giving him some wrong advice. The whole story is narrated by using the flashback cinematographic technique: it is Salieri who tells us the story from his personal point of view; as a consequence the story is not objective and Mozart is represented as a childish genius who does not need to work very hard in order to compose a masterwork. The film greatly represents the ambiguous relationship Salieri had with Mozart, the Italian composer both loves and hates his colleague; he really appreciates his genius but he is also disappointed by the fact that Mozart does not need to make any effort in order to compose great music. On the contrary Salieri’s total dedication to music seems to be useless since he does not manage to create something brilliant. This is why he is so envious of his colleague.

The film starts in a in an insane asylum where Salieri stays after having tried to commit suicide; the Italian composer confesses to a priest that he is responsible for Mozart’s death. Salieri tells to the priest he really wanted to be a composer since he was a very young boy and thanks to his total dedication to music he has managed to become a good composer and to work for Emperor Joseph II. However Salieri’s achievements will be suddenly threatened by the arrival of a young and talented man: Mozart. Despite being a childish and lewd man, Mozart is an extraordinary composer who quickly obtains the favour of the emperor; Salieri, who is envious of his rival’s genius, plots against him. Salieri uses Mozart’s financial problems against him to lead his rival to a deep crisis both economical and personal; the Italian composer, on one side, makes Mozart think he wants to help him but, on the other side, he will actually plot against his rival by giving him some wrong advice. The story ends with the death of the great composer who dictates his famous requiem to Salieri.

This film was first shown in 1989, but in 2002 a director’s cut version was realised with almost 20 extra minutes. Amadeus has been praised by critics with 53 nominations and 40 awards, including 8 Academy Awards and 4 Golden Globes. Its best merit is to have provided for the extraordinary music of Mozart a framework that allows common people to appreciate it.

Maria Stefania Cuttone