Introduction
Amadeus is a drama film about Mozart’s life after he departs from Salzburg. The film focuses on the relationship between Mozart and Salieri and claims the version that Salieri killed the composer out of envy (Forman, 1984). Milos Forman directs Amadeus, an adaptation of a play created by Peter Shaffer; the film was produced by The Saul Zaentz Company (Forman, 1984). F. Murray Abraham played the role of Salieri, while Tom Hulce acted as Mozart (Forman, 1984). A distinctive feature of the film is the use of Mozart’s music, which plays throughout the action.
Purpose and Creation of Amadeus
The reason for creating Amadeus was mainly the desire of the authors to screen the dramatic story of Mozart and Salieri. Amadeus was filmed to pay tribute to the great composer and use his music as an independent narrative. The film does not serve the purpose of conveying historical accuracy but rather shows the difficulty of the artist’s path in the world of conventions and barriers (Learning about Movies, 2021, 00:02:30-00:04:00).
Themes and Character Representation
The main themes of the film are creativity, jealousy, and the confrontation between the new and the old. Salieri’s character serves to represent the old world, which obstructs Mozart’s character, who represents the new world. The figure of Mozart is an example of an artist constantly struggling with the outside world to bring his great creativity into it. The whole environment of Mozart, including the historical framework, presents him with obstacles to creativity, demonstrating how difficult it is for the creator to convey the significance of his creation.
Reception and Legacy
The film was received positively by both film critics and the general public. The audience did not appreciate the historical accuracy, but the atmosphere, the metaphoric sense, and the film’s musicality. Amadeus received Best Film and Best Director awards, and F. Murray Abraham was recognized as the Best Actor.
The film also received an Oscar for Best Soundtrack, and this is only a small part of the awards (Learning about Movies, 2021, 00:30:00-00:01:00). Although the film was made a long time ago, it is popular today for those who are interested in classical music. Mozart began to create at a very early age and quickly achieved mastery, which is reflected in the film using chronological musical narration (Kluball & Kramer, 2015). Due to its brilliance and the re-creation of the historical atmosphere, the film can be watched by lovers of classical music and the general public.
Intended Audience
The film is a free fantasy and does not provide valuable information for people interested in history. However, a broad audience can enjoy a pleasant atmosphere, immerse themselves in the intrigues of the royal court, and listen to spectacular music. The film is not difficult to understand and is aimed at a broad audience due to its simple reverse chronology and understandable narration, which is why any viewer can appreciate it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Amadeus is a film about the artist’s difficult fate and the obstacles in his path. Mozart’s music plays the main role in the film, becoming an independent narrative element. The film can be watched by fans of classical music, film critics, and the general public. Despite the lack of precise historical accuracy, the film is a well-crafted metaphor for the price of true creativity.
References
Forman, M. (1984). Amadeus [Film]. The Saul Zaentz Company.
Kluball, J., & Kramer, E. (2015). Understanding music: Past and present. University of North Georgia.
Learning about Movies. (2021). Amadeus – What makes this movie great? [Video]. YouTube. Web.