A lightly likable low-key French costumer, René Féret’s “Mozart’s Sister” (Nannerl, la soeur de Mozart) fictionalizes the life of the composer’s older sister and fellow prodigy. Telling the family’s itinerant life, teenage Nannerl (Marie Féret, the director’s daughter) is the story, not little Wolfgang, although he’s part of what they’re putting on show on the road.There’s a genial ordinariness to “Mozart’s Sister” that suggests the story could be taking place even now, unlike a higher-budgeted, more intricate recreation of an era long past. Clever moments occur often enough between long passages of so-so acting. Marie-Jeanne Serrero composed the lovely music for Nannerl’s character; none was left to history. With Marc Barbé, Delphine Chuillot, David Moreau, Clovis Fouin. 120m. (Ray Pride)
“Mozart’s Sister” is now playing at the Music Box.
Ray Pride is Newcity’s Senior Editor and Film Critic. He is a contributing editor of Filmmaker magazine.
Ray’s history of Chicago Ghost Signs is planned for publication next year. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram. More photography on Instagram.
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