What makes a parent encourage the ambitions of one child and stifle that of another? In the case of Marie Anna Nannerl Mozart, it was simply her gender.
In the French language film, “Mozart’s Sister,” Nannerl (Marie Féret) is the older sister of the famous composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (David Moreau). Wolfgang’s senior by five years, Nannerl is forced to live in the shadow of her brother and accompany him on his rise to musical stardom.
René Féret directed the film, creating a vivacious costume drama that questions who is the true genius of the Mozart family.
It also marks Marie Féret’s third film with the director, who is her father. She does a wonderful job illustrating the woes of Nannerl as she realizes that her talent will never overshadow the fact that she is a woman.
The film opens with a scene in which Nannerl is playing the violin. Initially, she is recognized as the musical genius of the Mozart family. But, as her little brother Wolfgang grows up, her father, played by Marc Barbé, starts to put all his focus on Wolfgang because playing the violin is unfit for a woman — but that does not stop Nannerl from holding on to her dream.
In the summer of 1760, Léopold Mozart decides to take his family on a tour of the European royal courts in order to flaunt Wolfgang’s talent. Nannerl is to play the piano accompaniment for Wolfgang’s pieces, but it is hard to hide her talent.
She has the voice of an angel, an impeccable ability to play the piano and an equally moving disposition for the violin. But regardless of what she does, the star of the show will be Wolfgang.
The audience first notices Nannerl’s talent when the Mozart family visits the daughters of Louis XV at an abbey.
The daughters of Louis XV are smitten with her charm and inclination towards music. Nannerl becomes closely acquainted with Princess Louise (Lisa Féret), with whom she shares her desire to pursue music. But Nannerl must go as her family moves on to another tour location.
At the family’s next destination, Versailles, Nannerl’s talent is really put on display when Wolfgang plays for the French court.
The court is taken aback by Wolfgang’s talent, but Nannerl catches the eye of the Dauphin of France (Clovis Fouin). Just like his younger sister, Louise, the Dauphin is drawn to Nannerl due to her musical abilities and he commissions works of music from her.
It is during the Mozart family’s time at Versailles that Nannerl’s angst comes out.
She tries desperately to pursue her musical gifts, but it constantly deterred by her father who employs the help of her mother to teach her how to be a woman. She goes as far as dressing up like a man and attending composition classes to help her write the notes she tells her father that she hears in her head.
Beautifully illustrated, the film shows the difficulties of the true genius of the Mozart family. A treat for music lovers, the film is now out in limited release at Landmark E Street Cinema.
