Bride of the Wind - 5 stars out of 10

Bride of the Wind - 5 stars out of 10

“Bride of the Wind,” 2001′s biopic of Alma Mahler, is an intriguing look into the life of one of music history’s most polarizing characters.  While the critics hated it, anybody with a decent knowledge of Gustav and/or Alma Mahler will enjoy seeing these historical figures brought to life.  The entire first half of the film is Alma’s relationship with Gustav, creating sympathy for Alma without making Gustav into a bad guy.  It mostly portrays them as incompatible as Gustav is too preoccupied with his music to realize that Alma is struggling.  The moment when Gustav confronts Alma with the letter written to her by lover Walter Gropius is chilling, as well as when Oskar Kokoschka reveals his famous intimate painting of Alma, “The Bride of the Wind.”  The film score is full of Mahler’s greatest works, including the 3rd Symphony, 5th Symphony, 6th Symphony, and Kindertotenlieder amongst other pieces.  While the acting isn’t of “Shawshank” stature, Jonathan Pryce is an excellent Gustav and Sarah Wynter shows why men were so intrigued with the strong-willed Alma (a.k.a. she’s hott).  This movie has been buried by its horrific critical reception but it is a treasure to any person who takes interest in the lives of the Mahlers.