In Search of Mozart

The antidote to the Hollywood portrayal of the composer in Amadeus will be playing in Chicago over the next few days. In Search of Mozart starts tomorrow at the Gene Siskel Film Center.

IN SEARCH OF MOZART
2006, Phil Grabsky, Britain, 128 min.

“Conveys the intensity of the musical experience more grippingly than anything I have seen.”--The Times

IN SEARCH OF MOZART is easily the most comprehensive and credible film ever made about the composer, serving as a corrective to the myths perpetrated by AMADEUS. More than that, Phil Grabsky’s lively, beautifully structured film is one of the best documentaries ever made about an artist. Narration (by Juliet Stevenson), illustrations, present-day locales, excerpts from letters, and commentary from a host of historians (but no reenactments!) fluidly illuminate every aspect of Mozart’s life, including his stormy relationship with his father, his ardent marriage, his financial worries, his political infighting, and much more. At the same time, the biography is seamlessly interwoven with the music, brought to life through the insights of celebrated performers and through a constant flow of selections from over 70 works performed by distinguished orchestras, ensembles, and opera companies. What emerges is a truly three-dimensional portrait of a believable man and his incredible work. DigiBeta video.

April 13--19
Fri. and Thu. at 6:00 pm and 8:30 pm;
Sat. at 3:00 pm, 5:30 pm, and 8:00 pm
Sun. at 2:45 pm and 5:15 pm
Mon. and Tue. at 6:30 pm only