Gottlieb

One of my favourite films is Amadeus.

This is quite unusual, as it is completely historically inaccurate. I think it's the only film in this category I like, probably because it changes the reality of events to suit the point of the film, rather than cinematic effect.

It is a film about Mozart, obviously. Lovers of his music enjoy the mention of some of his famous work, and present suggestions as to how they came about - "twelve foot snakes, magic flutes...it's rediculous", says his wife. "Too many notes", says the Emperor. And the outfits are wonderful. I wish I lived in those days just for that. Mozart, of course, had similar sartorial tastes to myself: not only into floral music, he was no stranger to lace and velvet.

Anyway, this film looks at the life of the musician through the eyes of Salieri, who was the Kappelmeister of the Austrian court (not the court composer, as the film suggests). He kept this post right up until his last illness, and did not die in an asylum. Needless to say, he probably didn't do anything to cause Mozart's death.

Despite these faults, Salieri is shown as a man filled with guilt and pain, and refusing to relieve himself of this, he boils over and becomes mad. It is beautiful to see his relationship with God grow and flower, and terrible to see it decline and faulter, but then again, that is often the reality of life. I wonder how many times we have asked ourselves: why does God make that arrogant wretch his instrument on earth, for the skills he has are God-given? Why does God implant a desire in us, only to take away the means of fulfilling it? I know I have asked those questions before, and I'm not the only one. But what is important is not ending up like Salieri is portrayed.



I can just feel that sword going through Saleri...excellent film.

I don't like the title of the film, though.

The composer's actual name was Johann Chrisostomus Wolfgang Gottlieb Mozart. None of his issue are around today, his line becoming extinct in the mid 19th century. I think his personality in the film is relatively accurate: i.e. arrogantly endearing. In fact, like a few people I can think of! He was a loyal Catholic, a gift from heaven certainly, and it's one of my life's aims to prove he wasn't a Freemason once and for all. His younger son suffered greatly from an inferiority complex, much unlike his father.