Not Mozart (1991)

This highly original celebration of the work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gives rein to the inventiveness of six distinguished contemporary composers who were each invited to collaborate with a top filmmaker of their choice to produce a tribute to the maestro. These partnerships let their imaginations run riot and produced a collection which ranges from the hilarious to the frankly baffling to the deeply moving. The films include: "M Is for Man, Music and Mozart," composed by Louis Andriessen and directed by Peter Greenaway (The Draughtsman's Contract), "Bring Me the Head of Amadeus," composed by H.K. Gruber and directed by Barrie Gavin, "Letters, Riddles and Writs," composed by Michael Nyman (The End of the Affair) and directed by Jeremy Newson and Pat Gavin, "N*t M*zart," composed by Mathias Ruegg and directed by Ernst Grandits, "Wam Ltd," composed by Misha Mengelberg and directed by Anthony Garner, "Scipio's Dream," composed by Judith Weir and directed by Margaret Williams.

A good alternative to adulation

This series of programs, developed for the anniversary of Mozart's death, make a surprisingly apt way of celebrating his 250th birthday in 2006! The most noteworthy is probably the collaboration between Peter Greenaway and composer Louis Andriessen, "M is for Man, Music, Mozart." Like so many other Greenaway films, this one's replete with full-frontal nudity, endless video overlays, and lots of superimposed text. The result is total eye-candy, rendered tart by Andriessen's jazz-tinged score. I also enjoyed "Letters, Riddles & Writs," with a score by Michael Nyman and a remarkable performance by Ute Lemper as Mozart! And German avant-gardist H.K. Gruber & Barrie Gavin's "Bring Me the Head of Amadeus" is totally whacked! If you've found all the pious Mozartizing ths year tedious, this DVD will bring needed relief! December 17, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...