A widely fictionalized story of the Mozart family, focusing on Nannerl, Amadeus' older sister. The fictional events are supposed to take place during the Mozart's "grand tour" of Europe, from 1762 to 1773. On their way to Paris, the family gets stranded nearby an abbey, where the last three daughters of King Louis XV are staying. Nannerl makes friend with Louise, the youngest sister and she is entrusted with a love letter for Hugues, a guy Louise is in love with, to be delivered in Versailles.
The family arrives in Versailles when the Dauphin is in mourning for the death of his wife and Nannerl must wear men clothes to enter the Dauphin's circle, where Hugues is employed. This leads to the Dauphin and Nannerl falling for each other. But politics must prevail, therefore the Dauphin marries a princess and Nannerl goes back to Austria with her family.
The main point of the film is the miserable situation of women at the time.
Although the romance is purely fictional, what resonates disturbingly true is the submissive, second-rate quality of a woman's life in Mozart times.
The movie is slightly too long, with some unnecessary episodes (the porn book?). The costumes and lights are good and most acting, too. I did not like much Marie Féret as Nannerl, because her delivery was very flat – but maybe it was a way to suggest that women could not even express emotions
The family arrives in Versailles when the Dauphin is in mourning for the death of his wife and Nannerl must wear men clothes to enter the Dauphin's circle, where Hugues is employed. This leads to the Dauphin and Nannerl falling for each other. But politics must prevail, therefore the Dauphin marries a princess and Nannerl goes back to Austria with her family.
The main point of the film is the miserable situation of women at the time.
- Nannerl was an accomplished performer as her brother, but being female she had no rights to pursue her studies or to have a "career" as a musician. - Louise was not even allowed to court and being the younger one, her only "escape" was to become a nun. - The Dauphine we do not even see, died in childbirth, a high risk activity at the time and yet, the only added value of a woman's life. - Her death was useless because she produced a female heir, completely useless for the monarchy, hence pushing the Dauphin to a hasty second marriage; etc....
Although the romance is purely fictional, what resonates disturbingly true is the submissive, second-rate quality of a woman's life in Mozart times.
The movie is slightly too long, with some unnecessary episodes (the porn book?). The costumes and lights are good and most acting, too. I did not like much Marie Féret as Nannerl, because her delivery was very flat – but maybe it was a way to suggest that women could not even express emotions