Amadeus Film Clip Analysis

Amadeus Analysis

I will be analysing a clip from the film Amadeus.

The establishing frame is of Mozart conducting the orchestra his piece ‘Marriage of Figaro’. Mozart is shone in bright and bold high key lighting that casts him as the binary opposite of Saleri. This is because Saleri is a dark and negative character being Mozart’s bitter rival and is always lighted in low key lighting. There opposites are also represented through their clothing; Mozart in lurid, outlandish colours that reflects his flamboyant personality whilst Saleri is dressed in plain, dark clothes that shows he is a stoic individual.

The frame cuts to a low angle shot of Mozart from behind still conducting. The shot looks as if Mozart is in front of an alter preaching. This is important because Saleri believes ‘God speaks through this little man’ and speaks this with much reverence in his words so the director has used may religious connotes to portray this.  The framing then switches to a disgruntled Saleri looking down upon Mozart in disdain, knowing the opera to be sheer brilliance. The framing around Saleri appears to be closing in on him until a cut shows the Emperor yawn, switching back to a loosening frame of Saleri.