Musically Gifted Young Woman Suffers Tragedy and Injustice in "Mozart's Sister"

Comments (0) By Ernest Hardy Thursday, Oct 20 2011

In heavily outlining the tragedies and injustices that befell the musically gifted older sister of Wolfgang "Amadeus," writer/director René Féret underplays the most interesting elements in this story of Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart. Forced by their father to tour under hellish circumstances, young Wolfgang and Nannerl traverse Europe year-round, performing recitals for aristocrats who often stiff them. But the real humiliation occurs when teenaged Nannerl, forbidden by her father from writing her own music, is reduced to accompanist for her baby brother; women simply are not composers or serious musicians. The father's edict sets the course for Nannerl's bitter life, most of which is told in postscript. But before we get there, the turgid film's margins contain a young princess turned nun whose friendliness with Nannerl carries more than a whiff of the Sapphic; and a tortured, married young nobleman who has Nannerl cross-dress so they can meet without arousing suspicion. These subplots hint at what could have been, nudging the film toward biting rather than obvious commentary on the intersections of gender, sexuality, and creativity and the costs of thwarting expression of any of them. But Féret barely explores this, and the film suffers for it.

Related Content

Check out this week's featured ad for Restaurants
More Ads >>
 
My Voice Nation Help
1 comments
  Livefyre
Newest | Oldest
 
VOICE Daily Deals

Now Showing

Find capsule reviews, showtimes & tickets for all films in town.

Powered By VOICE Places

Slideshows

Join My Voice Nation for free stuff, film info & more!

Now Trending

Box Office

  1. Star Trek Into Darkness, 70.6 mil, 84.1 mil
  2. Iron Man 3, 35.2 mil, 337.1 mil
  3. The Great Gatsby, 23.4 mil, 90.2 mil
  4. Pain & Gain, 3.1 mil, 46.6 mil
  5. The Croods, 2.8 mil, 176.8 mil
  6. 42, 2.7 mil, 88.7 mil
  7. Oblivion, 2.2 mil, 85.5 mil
  8. Peeples, 2.1 mil, 7.9 mil
  9. Mud, 2.1 mil, 11.6 mil
  10. The Big Wedding, 1.1 mil, 2.2 mil
Movie Title, Weekly Earnings, Total Earnings

Movie Trailers

More News Stories >
©2013 New Times BPB, LLC, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Broward / Palm Beach

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city

Join
Log In