Pushkin's tale is symbolic and a good film cannot be so schematic (unless one doesn't want just to stage the play). As usual Milos created more realistic characters and gave clear motivation of all their actionss and behaviour. What is interesting is that Mozart is shown like the ordinary man, big-hearted and merry person but also rather careless - with a huge natural talent. The main attention is concentrated on his older competitor Saliery who admires Mozart's musical genius but despises the young man's crudity.
Salieri, a crafty and experienced courtier and a man of the world is experienced in intrigues and all other things about which Mozart knows nothing. He endures his competitor for a long time but he cannot sleep well. He is hurt to see that a talent which he always longed for himself is granted to this ordinary and vulgar man. Certainly he pretends to be a protector of Mozart (they could not be friends) but he's delighted as his young rival descends into poverty. Instead of helping him, Salieri contrives a demonic plan to ruin him absolutely. In disguise he comes to Mozart and asks him to write requiem (the composer's final work). Mozart plunges enthusiastically into work but soon literally falls ill right in Salieri's arms. The latter takes him home and there their relations reach the dramatic culmination: all enmity is forgotten, as they become only two creative musicians for whom only their magnificent art exists. Mozart is trying to dictate music to Salieri who is too slow to write it down. "But have you got it?" asks Mozart. And suddenly Salieri catches the tune. "Yes" he answers. This is drama.
Milos (or Shaffer) took away the traditional scene of poisoning and replaced it with an episode where masqued Salieri comissions Mozart to compose requiem. And indeed the poisoning scene would be too melodramatic while Salieri uses the psychological weapon instead: Salieri's disguise reminds Mozart about his father. (The motifs of masque and parody are very important in this film.) It is historically factual that Mozart died before completing his great work and that Saliery ended his days in an asylum. The whole film story is made as Salieri's confession or rather as the story of great passion. At the end of the story he admits his defeat. He fails to solve the Mozart mystery. He thinks that Mozart's genius does not correspond to his personality. But is it really so?
The film is remakcble for its brilliant photography and direction and actor's play. The fragment from Mozart's works makes an excellent musical background and construct a part of the drama. Tom Hulce as Mozart is very sympathetic and is not that ordinary as it might seem at first. But the game of Murray Abraham as Saliery is really striking. He managed to perform the complicated chraracter torn by the contradictory passions. Under the imperturbable face we see passion of an artist and man. The artist who lacks great talent but who is able to recognize it in the other. Mozart was a divine delight and at the same time the cruel suffering of his life, his blessing and his curse.
Back to Movie Reviews Back to Home Page
