Film Night – "Amadeus"

On Sunday 18^th January, LIFT organised another Film Night. Once again this activity was a great success marking the greatest crowd ever gathering at the Multi-Purpose Room to watch the film for the night; “Amadeus”, a 1984 drama directed by Miloš Forman and written by Peter Shaffer. Based on Shaffer's stage play Amadeus, the film is based very loosely on the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, two composers who lived in Vienna, Austria, during the later half of the 18^th century.

The film was nominated for 53 awards and received 40, including 8 Academy Awards (including Best Picture), 4 BAFTA Awards, 4 Golden Globes and a DGA Award. In 1998 Amadeus was ranked the 53rd best American movie by the american Film Institute on its AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies list.

Unfortunately this time round due to the length of the film it was not possible to have a short discussion around the main themes of the film. As a matter of fact LIFT invites you to share a discussion on this film by sending comments to this post.

Something about the plot itself:

It is a cold winter evening and two housemen attempt to rouse their master, former glorified Viennese court composer Antonio Salieri. Being unsuccessful from their knocking, they force Salieri's bedroom door open and find him on the floor, bleeding from a knife wound to the neck. They carry him to a mental hospital, where his wound is bound up, and a priest comes to see him the next day. The priest attempts to get him to explain why he would try to take his own life and the movie flashes back. The film deals with the last few months of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's life, told in flashbacks by this old, washed-up musician named Antonio Salieri. Salieri tells of the genius, the ingenuity, and the insanity of the young musician who died mysteriously at the age of 35. Salieri's jealousy may have led him to kill the young composer, but that is something that will never be known. Amadeus is an interesting commentary that tries to fill holes in history and succeeds amazingly. By mixing fact and probable fiction, the film-makers succeeded in creating a truly remarkable motion picture that is easily one of the best of the 1980s.

'Amadeus' is a deep, thought-provoking and exceptional film. The following are some reflections and thoughts we would like to share:

What are the real intentions behind the prayers we put forward to God? Are they sincerely set to strengthen ourselves to be able to glorify Him or instead to glorify ourselves?

Are there moments in our lives, when as Salieri did, we try to be in the limelight to glorify God?

Do we sometimes ask God why it seems that He prefers others rather than us by giving them things which we wish we had? We should rather be grateful and pray to get the light to appreciate the things we have and be able to seek the good within us.

Aided with his genius, Mozart was a non-conformist musician who always took the chance to be different to the norm. His way of writing music enriched with a lot of notes and unbound from general rules in style, language and content. He was able to illuminate others to the change. Are we ready to act differently against the trends of our times? Why should we wait for the judgement of others to be fulfilled with what with do?

Salieri's father was definitely obscuring his dream. In a way although Mozart's father encouraged his son to enrich his talent, Mozart was never totally free, not even after the death of his father. Why should we leave others to destroy or hook our dreams? Why should we blame others for not being able to follow our dreams as Salieri did in many occassions?

Are we ready to be generous and love others irrespective of the circumstances as the wife of Mozart did?

Why should we concentrate our energy to seek how others compare to us rather than being grateful for what we are irrespective of what we do?

Are we ready to except the fact that there must be a time in our lives when someone more able than us takes the limelight sometimes at the expense of being forgotten in history?

The film shows us that Amadeus performed in front of two different audiences: the noble and the peasant audience. In which audience do we fit: the noble audience who is glad to keep stuck to old habits and traditions or the peasant audience who is willing to except changes and be inspired by the enlightened ones?

Although Mozart held a great talent he was never able to provide a quality life to those around him. Are we using our talents in the right way in the benefit of the others around us?

Mozart was all the time haunted by many ghosts of the past. Are we ready to revive ourselves by leaving to our backs bad experiences we went through whilst learning from our mistakes?

Prepared by Owen Casha & Anton Debono

LIFT invites you to continue the discussion on this blog by sending comments to this post and share your views about the film itself and this activity.

Goodbye to 2008 and a BIG Welcome to 2009!!

First of all LIFT would like to thank all the readers of this blog particularly those who send their comments and share their views. Basically the aim behind all this is to expand our interaction - reaching a cyber communication - This Blog is a very strong tool for all to use and exploit. This blog will continue to be updated in 2009 and yet will be even stronger than ever.

Our Blog is yours to discover. It’s another link to communicate with us... it’s not just a 2 way communication but an interactive tool to communicate beyond...

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Lets take a look at what happened in the last months of 2008


LIFT NYE PARTY - 31st December, 2008

This time we opted for Tarxien Hall - In fact this 'new' venue gave us all we actually needed... including a big hall for our dance-floor and DJs, bar-area, relax-area, ample parking space and most of all plenty of people enjoying the night!

This was also a LIFT record for attendance. In fact a staggering crowd of 100 people filled the place - We should note that we also received a lot of positive feedback from those who attended. Thanks to all of you!!!

LIFT should primarily thank the Augustinian Friars at Tarxien for their kind permission, Stefan for providing us with a professional sound system including CD decks and large speakers, Cedric for providing us with professional disco lighting, Annabelle and 'uncle Alex' for providing us with loads of draperies, 'ideas' and other decorative staff, Joséf for providing us with extra fridges and large carpets, Conrad Dimech for designing our promotional e-flyers and all the staff from James Caterers.

All special thanks go to all those who provided us with give-aways for our guests including Stefan (providing us with wines and spirits), Eman Pulis (bacio chocolates at the door) and Chemimart for our give-aways including also perfume samples for all attending.

Special thanks goes also to our local DJs; Stefan, Anton, Cedric and Ray.

This was also a core team effort and this event could have never been possible without Katya, Stephania, Ray, Jeremy, Fr Ray, Daniela, Anton and Maria.

Please follow this link to see photos of NYE Party 2008:
http://www.mclift.org/RunScript.asp?Page=112&p=ASP\Pg112.asp



THE LIFT GATHERING - 5th December 2008

This is the 2nd LIFT GATHERING event - This activity took place at the Auditorium. It was addressed by Fr Ray Francalanza and then each member of the core team took a small group of people to discuss certain issues in a focus group level. A person who attended this event wanted to share with us his experience of this event:


First we started with an icebreaker where from it we discovered something about all the members who came that day. Then we were divided in small groups. In each group we had some questions, where from them we discovered something about ourselves.

After the small groups we met all of us and answered the question what we will save in case of a fire in our house. After we had a fellowship, and then went out for a drink.



THE LIFT HIKE - 30 Th November 2008

This was another typical LIFT Hike. This time the group headed to Buskett (Malta's small forest) - well joking apart :) This was another successful hike. A person who attended this hike wanted to share with us the below mentioned points.

1) The hike was well planned. We must plan our lives.

2) In the hike we followed James who led the way. In our live we must follow Jesus who leads our way.

3) In our hike we rested twice. In our hectic life we must rest.

4) In our hike we walked sometimes uphill, sometimes downhill. In our life we sometimes walk sometimes uphill, sometimes downhill.


LIFT would like to thank Pierre Azzopardi for sharing the above points related to the Formation Meeting and the Hike with our readers.

Please follow this link to see photos of this LIFT Hike;
http://www.mclift.org/RunScript.asp?Page=109&p=ASP\Pg109.aspRegards

LIFT invites you to continue the discussion on this blog by sending comments to this post and share your views about the NYE PARTY 2008, The Hike at Buskett and also LIFT Gathering. Thanks for your support.