To be precise, the film is based on a stage play and character portrayal came from it, too.  The theme of genius vs mere human can be traced back further, to Pushkin&#x27;s short play &quot;Mozart and Salieri&quot; in 1830 [1].<p>But I agree that the movie is so good that many people would take it as &quot;based on true story&quot;.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;ebooks.adelaide.edu.au&#x2F;p&#x2F;pushkin&#x2F;aleksandr&#x2F;p98mo&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;ebooks.adelaide.edu.au&#x2F;p&#x2F;pushkin&#x2F;aleksandr&#x2F;p98mo&#x2F;</a>