Mozart's Sister

It’s tough to be compared to a classic like Amadeus in almost any respect—and that’s not all that plagues Mozart’s Sister. It seems the prodigious musician had a gifted older sister, although she never reached the heights of baby brother. The reason we never heard of Nannerl Mozart, ostensibly, was that women could not have careers or, you know, earn respect. That theme is not unfamiliar, so outside of the revelation that Mozart had a talented sister, the film doesn’t break a lot of new ground. There’s a little nepotism on display, too: Director René Féret casts his daughter Marie as Nannerl, and his daughter Lisa as her best friend. Neither offers a lot of depth. But if you like the era and are intrigued by the setup, the film is great to look at.