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Movie: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Movie: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart


The movie takes place in Vienna, Austria in the 1700's. The film begins
with the attempted suicide of Antonio Salieri, a court composer of the Austrian
Emperor. He is placed in a mental asylum where a priest visits and asks for his
confession. Salieri claims to have caused the death of Mozart. The rest of the
movie is a narration by the court composer, mostly in flashbacks, of how he
caused this death.
Salieri recounts that while he was playing games as a boy Mozart was
playing music for the King. At the age of four, Mozart composed his first
concerto, at seven, his first symphony, and at twelve, his first opera. He was
considered a child prodigy.
Salieri wished to become a famous composer, like his idol. However, his
father would not allow this. He didn't want his son to be a ‘trained monkey, on
tour around Europe performing tricks like a circus'. Salieri prayed to God and
what he considered a miracle happened: his father dies and he was able to pursue
his musical studies. He eventually became a popular musician and teacher in the
Emperor's court. When he heard Mozart was coming to Vienna from Salzburg, he
eagerly sought him out. He finally found him at a party, way from the other
guests, acting like a silly animal, chasing a young woman. However, as soon as
he heard his music starting without him, he changed into a serious musician,
rushing to take his place as conductor. Salieri noticed that Mozart conducted
without notes. Although he recognized that Mozart was a ‘giggling, dirty-minded
creature', he was also able to see the genius in him. He couldn't understand why
God had chosen a ‘obscene child to be his instrument'. At another time, Mozart's
wife presents to Salieri some of his work in an attempt to get him a job as a
teacher. Salieri sees that the music sheets have no corrections and no notes.
Mozart simply composed from his head onto paper. It is then that Salieri is
overwhelmed by his brilliance. He realized that...