The Story Archive

Amadeus

Miloš Forman · 1984 CE · Film · Modern / American · Contemporary

An old man in a Vienna asylum tells the priest sent to hear him that he killed Mozart, then narrates his years as court composer: a pious mediocrity who bargained with God for greatness and watched it handed to a giggling, obscene young man whose manuscripts carry no corrections. His revenge takes the form of patronage, commissions and an anonymous request for a requiem. Forman shot Shaffer's stage conceit in Prague.

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Attributes

Genre
HistoricalTragedyPsychological
Theme
Ambition & HubrisArt & CreationFaith & DoubtGuilt & Conscience
Archetype (Jung / Campbell)
CreatorShadowTragic HeroThe Double
Plot structure
ConfessionFrame NarrativeRise and Fall
Symbol / motif
MusicThe MaskThe Cross / Altar
Conflict
vs Personvs Fate / Gods
Mode / tone
TragicIronic
Culture / tradition
Modern / American

Closest analogues