Yesterday I spent an absolutely enchanting late morning watching the new movie Mozartballs, which features one of my dearest friends, Steph Waller and her life-partner Lynette. (It helps to have an "in" with the star of a movie. ;-)) It's a gentle and loving look at people who have been affected in different ways by Mozart. Some of the folks are a little quirky, but they are all people that I would love to meet if I didn't know them already. I had a particular fondness for Austrian astronaut Franz Viehböck, who took Mozartkugeln (the aforementioned Mozartballs, which is a chocolate-and-marzipan candy) with him to share with fellow astronauts on the Mir space station. He seemed to be such a gentle soul.
Of course, it's a major kick to see someone you've known for just about 38 years :o in a movie. Undoubtedly those who have known Steph for a long time will see the film a bit differently than those who have not had the same good fortune. Some of the things she says will seem outrageous to a lot of folks. What I was especially pleased with was the way those who made the film obviously cared about my friend. There was a real sense of love and respect for her as a person and I believe that those who might have dismissed her as a kook will have their opinions softened by the gentle way in which her story is told.
It's doubtful that Mozartballs will ever be shown down at the local cineplex. It has been screened at several film festivals and has been broadcast on some European television networks. It is supposed to be coming up on a US cable network and some other places. I'll definitely be posting here when I find out the next time it'll be shown anywhere.
1 year ago
