A few, rather mundane words on Forman's Amadeus

Now that I’ve told you about my favourite book, let me drop a few lines on my favourite film. The singular form of the noun here may be regarded as an improbability, for as we know  for someone who has been engrossed during uncountable hours in images and followed "kilometers" of dialogs between protagonists, it would be an enormously difficult task –having to choose a SINGLE favourite movie. Regardless, the task in choosing a second, or a third, or a fourth feature and so on would be incomparably more difficult for me than to choose my number one. 

There are numerous examples in cinematography of biographical films which dramatise the lives of famous artists and musicians. Only a few of them have been given recognition and appreciation by critics and the public. Milos Forman’s “Amadeus” from 1984 is undoubtedly head and shoulders above all of them. Having received the most important movie awards, I can only describe Amadeus with rather familiar words – a real masterpiece of the Seventh Art. 

This is a film that thrust the music of one of the greatest composers of the classical era into the consciousness of the mainstream public. Related loosely to the lives of the two composers of the Classical Period in music history the film highlightens the idea of fierce rivalry between a genious and a mediocre composer eager for fame. The tale of the child prodigy who would become one of the greatest composers ever known contrast with an ordinary talent, a musician who had set his heart on becoming a significant figure in the music life of Vienna and feels threatened by “the touch of God” incarnated in this PERSON. Despite his desires and ambitions, Salieri is devoid of musical greatness, only being capable of recognizing it in others.

Mozart in this film is depicted as a lively, highly – spirited and infantile person who takes life for granted and succumbs to material pleasure – traits that exist under the surface of all that musical greatness. Salieri, on the other hand, has given up all the earthy pleasures in exchange for an extraordinary talent and spiritual creativity which he will never be granted. Therefore, his jealousy leads him beyond mere appreciation of Mozart into conspiracy to destroy him.

“Amadeus” is a movie of mesmerizing beauty, humour and above all brilliant character portrayals. Forman’s genious attempt to portray no other but such a genius has remained an inspiration not only for filmmakers, but for  a whole new generation of artists.