A Backstage Look at the Making of Amadeus

The Czech Embassy treated guests to a behind the scenes look at the making of director Miloš Forman’s Oscar-winning film Amadeus on September 27, at 6:30 pm, as part of its Film Club Series. National Film Archive Director Michal Bregant, an extra on the set of the film, offered his insight into the production of this beloved classic as well as Forman’s life. The program began with the screening of the documentary film The Making of Amadeus, followed by a Q&A with Bregant and Czech Cultural Counselor Barbara Karpetová. In the documentary, actors Tom Hulce (Mozart), F. Murry Abraham (Antonin Salieri), and Elizabeth Berridge (Constanze), among others, delighted the audience with their humorous stories from their auditions and time on the set, while director Miloš Forman spoke about trying to cast the right actors—especially Mozart. Forman returns to his homeland after almost 20 years in exile, all the while being followed by the secret police, to film Amadeus.