Life as a drama

Rating: 8/10 (29 August 2007)

The historical record showed no supports for the murder of Mozart by Salieri. The addition of dramatic elements always make the artistic goods more controversial but tremendous. There should be a less implication without them.
The adaptation of a noted musician raised 3 aspects as Humanity, Society and Ethical (or Philosophy) respectively. After the completion of narration, the ending appeared as various subjective views of Salieri, showing the non-talents kept alive, but did nothing in their survival. This implication about the long lasting but meaningless live is a critical master mind in this movie.
Before the discussion of philosophical argument, just see the most apparent human nature first. The 2 main characters: Amadeus and Salieri, reflected the human weakness of arrogance, jealously and avarice respectively. It seems that a tragedy was a must when 2 genius met but possessing an extreme opposite personality. However, there was no point that Salieri to destroy Amadeus completely who started losing his flash and becoming a frustrating live. Salieri should not been jealous anymore after the Emperor Joseph II have felt bored of Mozart's creations (loving fresh is also an ugliness of human being). His persistence to kill Mozart was that he needed himself to be unique in the field of music; title about "the best" was so powerful for us to ignore all morality.
For social issue, an inevitable concern about money for Mozart's family was encountered. Constanze played an incredible role of the supporting women behind a successful/strange man. The only thing which she couldn't stand on the same side of her husband was economical issue. Some stuff jobs were still to be accepted even Mozart was unwilling to do it. Anyway, Constanze had made the most appropriate balance between ideal and realistic world. On the other hand, the conflict between political views with artistic idealism was much stronger and hard to be comprised. Joseph II couldn't endure the trend of his territory being dominated by aesthetic and art, instead of the ideology created by his' government. The trend of the society should be led by the utilitarianism. Joseph decided to sacrifice the unique artistic innovation made by Amadeus; even he regarded himself as full of passion in art and culture.
This movie tries to let audience realize that taking revenge was equal to demolish ourselves, like the destiny of Salieri: killing his musical talent, confidence and live meaning. What he did so much and spend just get nothing at the end (an idea of Nihilism). On the contrary, Amadeus was dead in peace with a beautiful trap held by Salleri (as Amadeus still believed that Salieri was his soul mate, he would be dead in upset and anger if he found the truth).
In the view of religion, was believed in God get the permanent flash? Salieri rejected him and spent for the rest of his live as a fool. If he trusted him, why does a temptations of various kinds of desire be granted to him, so as to let him suffered from it, and finally let him (even all human) have a chance to leave God's embrace. It seems to be a joke with extreme paradox: Is it possible for us with totally pure heart while taking active role for world contribution? If yes, desire is a must (but chasing it cause serious tragedy). If vice versa, it seems that escaping form sin is the only mission for human. Is such kind of live meaningful and funny? So passive!
Finally, some production style is interesting in the film. First, the handling of the scene of live operas was standardized with 2 kinds of shooting view: wide shot for the whole stage performance, while using close-up/middle shots for specific audience. Such arrangement clearly showed the dignity of the opera scene, and the feeling of different characters (especially for Salieri and Joseph). The low angle shooting of Mozart monitoring the orchestra, together the real soundtrack of him, also expressed the imposing art very much.