Mozart and Salieri (film)

Mozart and Salieri is a 1984 Soviet television film directed by Vladimir Gorikker. It is an adaptation of Alexander Pushkin's play Mozart and Salieri, which explores the themes of envy, genius, and mediocrity. The film stars Innokenty Smoktunovsky as Salieri and Valery Zolotukhin as Mozart.

The film closely follows Pushkin's original verse drama. It depicts Antonio Salieri, a dedicated and respected composer, consumed by envy and resentment toward the seemingly effortless genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Salieri, who has devoted his life to music and achieved considerable success through hard work and discipline, cannot understand how Mozart, a frivolous and often immature individual, can create music of unparalleled beauty.

Driven by his jealousy and a belief that Mozart's genius undermines the value of his own accomplishments, Salieri contemplates poisoning Mozart. The film delves into Salieri's inner turmoil and his struggle to reconcile his admiration for Mozart's talent with his overwhelming feelings of inadequacy.

The film is noted for its performances, particularly Smoktunovsky's portrayal of the tormented Salieri. It also features excerpts from Mozart's music, further highlighting the contrast between his genius and Salieri's perceived mediocrity (though Salieri was, in reality, a highly accomplished composer).

While the film is based on Pushkin's fictionalized account and does not present a historically accurate depiction of the relationship between Mozart and Salieri, it serves as a compelling exploration of the psychological effects of envy and the nature of artistic genius.