I rewatched "Amadeus" again and I've got to say, it is still in my short list of all time great films. So much of the movie works so well, not only to convey an interesting story, but to create such a great character as Salieri and to delve into so many different themes. In addition, the DVD version contains the director's cut, which adds a couple new scenes and fleshes a few more out. Most of the added footage actually enhances the movies and it's themes. This is the way a director's cut should be (for another great director's cut, check out Ridley Scott's "Kingdom of Heaven").
One of the themes of this film deals with mediocrity, something that Salieri is striving to avoid. He's a good composer, but he never seems to be able to achieve anything "great". Instead of accepting his limitations, or working to improve them, he lets his jealousy of a musical genius, Mozart, drive him to become a despicable nasty human being.
This is something I think all artists struggle with. As a writer I can admire the skills and success of Stephen King, J.K. Rowling or Neil Gaiman. I can dream of becoming as big a hit as they are. I can set them up as my goal, or at least learn from their stories. What I don't want to do is become Salieri. But in the back of my mind I might wonder, "Why do I have this desire to be great, if I don't have that level of talent?"
Of course Salieri is also convinced that a higher power is attempting to stifle his pursuit of happiness. I know a lot of writers who believe in the power of luck and feel that being in the right place at the right time has a lot more power then actual talent. I guess that if you are bent on success in the publishing industry, that could be a solid observation. But personal success, or at least feeling good about your writing should be something we strive for as well. Can we be happy with being the best writer we can be? Do we have to be the most successful writer we can be? Are they tied?
Maybe the key is to accept your skills, hone them, keep trying and enjoy your life and your writing. This is one of the main things that Salieri never grasps. He's so jealous and bitter he doesn't enjoy the riches he has, the fame he obtains, and the admiration of others. He is a popular composer, one who has the ear of the Austrian Emperor - but he doesn't care. He wants to be something he can not and it destroys him.
Do you think mediocrity is a demon to be feared? Is there line between admiring a famous artist and coveting their skill? What did you think of "Amadeus"?
3 comments:
I LOVE the movie, and this line sticks to me. Does he mean, "I absolve you" as in I am the worst of all, the most mediocre, you all can feel better about yourselves because I am the mediocre to end all mediocrities...I mean, I am just hoping someone else can define it more clearly than me, but I think I know what he is saying, and I am still not sure nor certain how to explain it.
Wow, someone commenting on this on this old post. I'm surprised. :)
I think that final moment there is to show us how Salieri is a true narcissist. He is obsessed with himself and how others perceive him. He goes to great lengths to become something greater than he is, and he fails. He even fails at being known as the killer of Mozart. He is forgotten in an asylum, lost among the insane. In his mind God orchestrated all of this, and because of that he has been touched by God - has become a saint of sorts. So he ends the film releasing mediocrities everywhere from any sin they may have committed. But then the camera shows all the insane people around him, the mediocrities - just like him. And it comes home that Saleri is quite mad. Still full of himself, but insane none the less.
So yeah, I think you got the feel of the scene. But there is that added layer of showing us just where that kind of thinking can lead.
If he was a narcissist he was not well portrayed. Narcissists do not fail. They do not "care". Salieri was someone who wanted what another had, but he didn't have it. And he was miserable about it. Narcissists do not get miserable. But it is a story, and they chose to tell it through his eyes, and most people cannot comprehend the actuality of "not caring". I still think that "I absolve you" means that he is the "jesus" releasing them all from their sins, he is the worst sinner of all of them, he is taking the fall for them, he is their martyr. He now recognizes himself, as horrific as it may be.
Yeah, I can't believe it let me comment! lol
I got a wild hair up my butt and googled the phrase.
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