amadeus (1984)

I never admire another's fortune so much that I became dissatisfied with my own.
- Marcus Tulius Cicero (106-43 BC)


Amadeus is a film adaptation of the stage play written in 1979 by Peter Shaffer, loosely based on the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) and Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), both composers in 18th century Vienna. Amadeus was inspired by Mozart and Salieri, a short play by Aleksandr Pushkin and later adapted into an opera of the same name by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakovplay of the same title.

The film is told from the point of view of Salieri, who was content as the court composer for Austrian Emperor Joseph II (Jeffrey Jones), until the arrival of Mozart, a protegé of Count Hieronymus von Colloredo, the Bishop of Salzburg (Nicholas Kepros).

Salieri would thereafter descend into a tunnel of pure hate and envy, his joy of music completely soured and which he sees has been rendered ridiculous in the light of Mozart’s magical talent. It does not help that he views Mozart as an undeserving vessel of such music genius – he would be caught in bawdy behaviour, drunken sprees, heavy debts, and inelegant manners not befitting the Viennese court. Salieri thus plots Mozart’s destruction. In the end, he manages to convince himself that it was he who caused Mozart’s early death (he died at 35).

The film is an absolutely beautiful piece from start to finish with the heady mix of European intriguing, Mozart’s resonant music reverberating throughout, and the fabulous sets for the operas. Salieri shines completely in this film and we alternate from feeling abhorrence, shame, and even a vague sense of commiseration, for who amongst has not experienced the darts of envy at seeing somebody, who we believe unworthy, skyrocket to a place we have so much desired for ourselves.

The film was nominated for 53 awards and received 40, including 8 Academy Awards (including Best Picture), 4 BAFTA Awards, 4 Golden Globes, and a DGA Award.