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In Search of Mozart (Unrated)





Release Date: July 20th, 2007 (Cinema Village) by Seventh Art Productions and Direct Cinema Ltd.
Directed by Phil Grabsky.

BASIC PREMISE: A documentary about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a brilliant 18th Century composer and classical musician who died at the age of thirty-five in 1791.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: Those unfamiliar with Mozart will marvel at the wealth of facts about his life while fans of his will feel absorbed by listening to his brilliant music. This isn’t the story of someone who merely became recognized for his genius and lived happily ever after; Mozart had already been composing and performing his own music at the age of five, but it had always been a struggle to support his poor family with income. He had no trepidation of being the court composer for Emperor Joseph II and continued to compose even though the pay wasn’t too great. During his teenage years, he fell in love with a sixteen-year-old girl who eventually broke his heart by leaving him once she realized he’s a struggling composer/musician. The music that he wrote after this point in his life was much more mature. Director Phil Grabsky wisely includes fascinating, informative interviews with experts, such as historians and modern composers, who explain the specific tone of Mozart’s music which changed throughout the stages of his short life. The inclusion of letters that Mozart wrote helps you to somewhat understand what went on in his head—i.e. when he played his music in front of crowds, many people praised him afterward and then just left without any more interaction. What makes this documentary even more engaging, though, is the beautiful, well-edited cinematography that keeps you immersed by all the sights while you listen to the entrancing sounds of Mozart’s music. There’s also the very soothing voice of Juliet Stevenson as the narrator. Fortunately, at a running time of 2 hours and 8 minutes, In Search of Mozart doesn’t overstay its welcome.

SPIRITUAL VALUE: Just like one scholar says about Mozart and other geniuses like him, it takes a lot of hard, serious work and commitment to make such a difference in the field of music, or in any field for that matter. It’s quite inspiring that Mozart wrote down musical compositions wherever he went—even while playing billiards— and that he never gave up his passion for classical music.

INSULT TO YOUR INTELLIGENCE: None.

NUMBER OF TIMES I CHECKED MY WATCH: 0

IN A NUTSHELL: Marvelous. An informative, entrancing and inspirational documentary.

RECOMMENDED WAY TO WATCH: Movie Theater


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