In Search of Mozart is a really poorly directed documentary that gives a straightforward if somewhat defensive biography of Mozart. Director Phil Grabsky engages in some off-putting extreme close-ups of interviewees/performers (I don't really need to get nose-hair close to them) and the 129-minute movie is unevenly paced. It spends a lot of time on the birth and sudden (if common at the time) death of Mozart's first baby, then barely mentions his father's death in passing. It does a couple of things well. The musicians and their performances are choice (except for Don Giovanni). There are certainly interpretations of Mozart's music that are far worse out there. Best of all are the musicians explaining how certain pieces work while they play select portions. The movie could have used more of this in even greater depth. A deep analysis of Piano Concerto No. 20 could have been sublime.
Review of In Search of Mozart
