Mozart's Sister [Blu-ray]

I had seen the preview of this movie at my local independent movie theatre for quite some time, and had begun to wonder whether the movie would actually come to Cincinnati, but this past weekend the movie finally opened here, and I did not wait long t go see this, as I imagine this will not play very long (and the DVD is coming out soon as well).

"Mozart's Sister" (original title: "Nannerl, La Soeur de Mozart"; 2010 release from France; 120 min.) brings a look in the life of 15 year old Mari Anna (nicknamed Nannerl) Mozart. She is 5 years older than her brother and wunderkind Wolfgang, but Nannerl certainly has certain musical talents as well, in particular in playing the harpsichord. But it is not until after a chance meeting with the recently-widowed Dauphin of France that he encourages her to start developing her own composing talents. Alas, that is not the way her father sees is. There are some further turns and twists but I will let you discover those yourself.

Please note: this movie proceeds at glacial speed, and I mean this as a complement. It reflects, among other things, life in the late 18th century when things simply moved a lot slower and there was not a whole lot to do to entertain one-self. I found it refreshing, to be honest. Also note: if you are not a fan of classical music, you are probably not going to like this movie, as classical music is front-and-center all over. It appears that people in those circles really didn't have a whole lot more to do than to play or listen to classical music. The harpsichord is delightfully featured prominently throughout the movie. Last but not least there are the tremendous performances, none more so than Marie Feret as the title character (not sure if she is related to the director of this movie, Rene Feret), but check out also Lisa Feret (again, no idea whether related to either Mmarie or Rene Feret) as Louise of France. In all, I found this movie refreshing and insightful, but this is definitely not for anyone in a hurry. Highly recommended!

This is a quote from the film in which Maria Anna Mozart - the sister of the child prodigy Wolfgang - laments that her father has opened her personal diaries and scribbled comments about the genius of his young son but her own achievements, hard work, and devotion to music are ignored.

The movie transported me...to the eighteenth century in a way that "Amadeus" did not. Whereas "Amadeus" is spectacle, this gentle film takes place in the drawing rooms or homes of the nobility. It is the time when Mozart's father, Leopold, is dragging his two amazing children throughout Europe to show them off, to improve his son's musical education, and to advance his own thwarted ambitions. Needless to say, the photography, the costumes, and the music are a delight. I adored the film, yet was saddened by its theme. Bottom line, this is the most underrated film of 2011.

Marie Feret - who plays the 16 year old sister of Wolfgang - is a wonder. How does she do it? Understatement. She conveys emotions all through her eyes - shyness, laughter, intelligence, joy, anxiety, and alas...disappointment. [The director actually used both of his young daughters as actresses in "his film" - and gets terrific performances from them]

As for the principal character in the movie, the truth is that Mozart's sister was brilliant and talented but, as a woman, she was forced to take second place to her brother. This is not to say she was the better genius. That is impossible. But her opportunities - as a violinist or as a composer - were walled in by her domineering father.

Important scenes are the interaction of Mozart's sister with one of the princesses of France. The princess is locked away in a convent and befriends the talented young girl. The princess learns to accept her role as a bride of Christ and to find joy and contentment as an obedient nun. But Nannerl, the sister of Mozart, is different from other girls. Her heart and mind beg her to create; her society and father simply won't allow it.

When I saw this wonderful film in the movie theater, I noted that two older women in the audience were crying. I asked them how they felt about the experience of seeing "Mozart's Sister." One of the ladies said "I weep for all the women throughout the centuries whose imaginations were suffocated unfairly." A tender person would feel the same way.

There is a moment, just about the end of the film, that summarized everything the filmmaker wanted to convey. Unforgettable.

I loved this movie for reasons stated in above reviews as well: the movie has a beautiful atmosphere that really transports you to that time and that alone makes it well worth viewing. It is one of those rare movies that entraps you and really makes you forget you're watching a movie. The fact that it's about Mozart and his family and features wonderful music played by the two young siblings is the icing on the cake! Lovers of historical accuracy and fact checkers beware - you will find fault. But it is really a beautiful, lovely film that should disappoint no one interested in classical music, Mozart, and the time period. Yes, it does move slowly but again this is truly representative of that time period when things moved at a slower pace, not today's fast paced world - which only helps to immerse you in the experience!

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 12 reviews  4.2 out of 5 stars