Interlude in Prague (2017) User Reviews

Musical Drama

[Foutainoflife · 7/10 · 30 January 2019]

I thought this was a creative take on Mozart's Don Giovanni. Granted that I don't know much about the opera, I can appreciate the complexity and artistry of the music and the beauty in the talent and range of the vocalists. It is my understanding that this is a fictional story written based on actual events. I can only assume that this implies that Mozart composed Don Giovanni in Prague but the story surrounding the composition in the film is fictional. Regardless, I enjoyed watching this.

The great things in this film are the music, the vocalists, the costuming, the settings and emotion. I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more focus on how devious the barron was. I felt like the fear of his cruelty was seen clearly in most of the characters but his actions causing fear just weren't explained enough to justify so much fear.

I'm not sure that I will watch this again but I'm glad I decided to check it out.

An interesting reconstruction of the origins of Don Giovanni

[DoctorStrabismus · 7/10 · 26 April 2021]

My title does not say that it is an accurate reconstruction, and it probably does not set out to be, as just how much is known of the events of October 1787 might be up for debate. That the overture was a last minute composition is apparently true, as is the fact that the Duscheks were prominent in Prague's operatic world, but I expect that much of the rest was a rich blend of fantasy and artistic licence. However, the location choice of the Estates Theatre, the genuine venue of the opera's premiere, was a terrific touch.

Seeing Cilla Black's hubby pop up as Mozart was a surprise, but he did a far better and more credible job than.the clown-like Tom Hulce in 'Amadeus' some 33 years earlier. And having a real life Don Giovanni imposing his attentions on the women of the city was an interesting twist as a suggestion of Mozart's inspiration for the story, especially with a servant named Laporel, so similar to the opera's Leporello.

But the truth is that Mozart only arrived in the city 11 days prior to the planned premiere, so by that point he must have already composed just about everything, if not the overture. That premiere was postponed by two weeks, but apparently only for organisational reasons.

I have seen Don Giovanni countless times over the last 60 years or so, and that made it intriguing viewing for me. However the shooting was way too dark - yes, I know they only had candles and oil lamps in 1787, but as an audience we need to be able to see the faces and have a clear grasp of what is going on. And the dialogue was at times so mumbled that I would have liked subtitles. So in conclusion, 7/10 is a fair score.

Disappointed

[basseyeu · 5/10 · 30 July 2021]

I love Mozart, and am very familiar with Le Nozze di Figaro and particularly Don Giovanni. Whilst the sets and costumes were nice, the acting was much below an agreeable standard. The directing left a lot to be desired. The interpretation of the music was lacklustre. They didn't even use the climactic scene of Don Giovanni where he must confront the Commendatore.

In summary, this was the manifestation "Missed Opportunity"

Only writing this in case someone else plans to interpret Mozart again.

Great film - had to watch it twice on realising it was based on true events

[suefurnell · 20 December 2017]

Really enjoyed this based on relatively unknown period in Mozart's life when he had an affair and was writing Don Giovanni. Beautifully directed, lovely music as you'd expect, and lots of insight into Mozart though the gripping story..

Good and Bad

[ThomasColquith · 6/10 · 30 December 2021]

"Interlude in Prague" is an odd movie in that it is two-faced, being part horror movie and part musical. I enjoyed the lighter musical parts but the darker horror parts of the patronly stalker preying on women I did not enjoy. While I understand that stories need conflict, it just seemed too much here, having the film focus on adultery, rape, and murder. I thought this film would be a nice light vehicle to showcase some of Mozart's music and opera but it was too dark. And the cinematography was literally dark as well. I don't know why most modern films use dark camera hues or filters; I hate it. I want to see natural colors as they are. But on the positive side there was some good settings, costumes, acting, singing and music in this film. All in all I rate it a 6/10, worth watching once, not sure if I would watch it again though.

One line

[strike-1995 · 6/10 · 8 July 2018]

Zack Snyder meets Amadeus. Need to get a new editor, but it has the structure of a good story.

theres still a plenty room of improvement

[animaobscura · 4/10 · 29 December 2019]

Positive aspects: the settings in the style of 18th century, the costumes, the music of Mozart

but regrettably there are too much negative aspects in it: the script could be better - and no, it´s not based on facts as another review claimed: it's a fantasy story with fantasy persons, Mozart never met a Baron with name Saloka or a woman Suzuzana Lubtak, the story is completely fiction...lame fiction...only Josepha Duschek existed really. Besides that, most of the persons are wearing permanently wigs but those were already dated during this time period (1788)...moreover Mozart never visited Prague in this year (longer stays 1787,1791) and the film music in modern style between Mozarts music sucks really...it ruins the last oddment of authentic atmosphere in this movie. Don´t know what the filmmakers thought whilst deciding for this unsuitably music. Why don´t they use Mozarts music for all the scenes (they can choose from thousands of movements)

Well acted, beautifully sung, fanciful drama based on composition of Mozart's Don Giovanni

[alun-williams · 9/10 · 30 September 2017]

I'm not usually a fan of films which place real historical figures into imaginary situations, but I'll make an exception for this inventive fable about how Mozart's Don Giovanni might have been inspired/influenced by people he meets while on a trip to Prague. The film's central characters are the man himself (Aneurin Barnard), beautiful and gifted young soprano Zuzanna Lubtak (Morfydd Clark), and Baron Saluka (James Purefoy), who from the very first scene does his best to live up to the inevitable adjectives that apply to all barons worthy of the title: cruel & wicked. If I tell you that Zuzanna's parents also feature prominently (played by Dervla Kirwin and Adrian Edmonson, channelling his earlier role as Count Rostov) I've told you almost everything you need to know to work out most of the plot without even seeing the film. Other notable characters are Josefa Duchek (Samantha Barks) and Barbarina (Ruby Bentall), a half feisty, half put-upon servant girl and Mozart admirer, who is unsurprisingly more than a little reminiscent of Poldark's Verity at times.

Great operas manage to be great in spite of melodramatic characters and implausible but predictable plots, and this film manages the same trick comfortably thanks to the energy of the main performers. But we're nowhere near "Amadeus" - Mozart here is a strangely sympathetic character despite some all too obvious moral lapses. But predictable and preposterous or not, I was gripped almost throughout, only becoming impatient at two points where I was confused as to whether what I was seeing was supposed to be real or Mozart's imagination.

Prague is such a perfect setting for a period drama of this type, that it perhaps made it a bit too easy not to ask questions about the makeup and costumes. Once again, the operatic theme possibly helped here. At this point I should perhaps warn potential viewers that this film thoroughly deserves its 15 certificate - this isn't cosy family-friendly period drama.

It would be remiss to end this review without mentioning the music, which is of course wonderful. Samantha Barks does a great job with her songs, but a special mention should go out to singer Christina Johnston, who takes over from Morfydd Clark when the going gets opera, and does so brilliantly. I must say I felt this was handled very well technically, because I wasn't ever disturbed by the transition between voices or particularly conscious that I was watching something dubbed.

Overall mark 9/10 - just those couple of scenes that left me wanting more clarity lost a mark for me - I was totally willing to forgive everything else some may see as shortcomings, because it just felt so right for this film's theme.

Good tale for Mozart fans

[maxim-wilson-573-245352 · 8/10 · 27 September 2020]

An interesting tale set at the time Mozart conducts The Marriage of Figaro in Prague, in 1786. In the opera, the count is determined to seduce the countess' maid, Susanna who is betrothed to Figaro, who works for the count. This opera was somewhat revolutionary in that it held up the count to scorn and ridicule. Aneurin Barnard was a delightful Mozart, as was Morfydd Clarke as the beautiful soprano to sing Cherubino on the new opera, Don Giovanni. However, Adrian Edmondson was excellent as Herr Lubach, but Dervla Kirwan just grated as his wife. The wonderful irony was seeing the angry and grief-stricken Mozart channeling his anger towards the baron in getting revenge. Lots of beautiful music, and period costumes.

Wonderful Mozart Movie

[elizabethjo-71679 · 10/10 · 31 May 2022]

The acting was really fantastic. This movie has it all - music, love, intrigue and mystery. The settings and costumes were beautiful. Bravo and Brava for your work :-)

Way more than a costume drama

[VorpalJay · 9/10 · 18 November 2023]

This movie is a nuanced presentation of how toxic masculinity affected women in the 1700s. While ostensibly about Mozart and a performance of the marriage of Figaro in Prague, the movie provides a speculative fiction of how Mozart came to compose Don Giovanni, based on "real life" occurrences. We are presented with a highly credible representation of an abusive, powerful man who exploits women of all backgrounds with impunity. Although the theme is tragic, the celebration of the era's lifestyles and the magnificent music sugarcoat the grim message. Beautifully photographed with B role of historic Prague to enjoy, fine acting performances, and gorgeous costumes, it is suitable for 14+ audiences and serves as an important warning to girls and young women today.

Sumptuous musical period drama

[wrxsti54 · 9/10 · 24 October 2022]

Set in Prague in 1786, the movie creates a semi-biographical but fictional story around the background to one Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's most famous opera's Don Giovanni. Mozart (Aneurin Bernard) is brought to Prague by sinister local aristocrat Baron Saloka (James Purefoy) and Mozart welcomes the chance to escape his fickle audiences in Vienna for a chance of enjoying the unrestrained adulation he gets in Prague as he conducts the closing season of The Marriage of Figaro.

Mozart falls for young vivacious replacement soprano opera singer Samantha Barks (Josefa Duchek) but finds out her wealthy father has betrothed her to the rapacious and notoriously exploitive Baron. The Baron plots with local Archbishop Bonar (Laporal Blosch) to catch Mozart in his infidelity and discredit him but Mozart evades placed spies and tails to pursue his affair. The plot turns tragic as Mme. Barks is murdered by the Baron for refusing his advances. Mozart and her family are plunged into depression and melancholy and thus the Baron supposedly becomes the inspiration for the evil and imposing character of Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni.

Anyone who has travelled to Prague and other towns in the Czech Republic will know of the vast array of beautifully maintained 18th Century buildings so the setting is magnificently authentic augmented by fabulous costumes and of course Mozart's enervating and dramatic music. The international cast do largely a great job. I find Bernard perhaps closer to how I imagined Mozart that the more flippant and childish Tom Hulce in Amadeus. An all round gorgeous if mostly fictional period drama.