Copying Beethoven
Cast: Angus Barnett, Bill Stewart, Diane Kruger, Ed Harris, Matthew Goode, Phyllida Law, Ralph Riach, Viktoria Dihen
Synopsis:
A fictionalised exploration of Beethoven’s life in his final days working on his Ninth Symphony. It is 1824. Beethoven is racing to finish his new symphony. However, it has been years since his last success and he is plagued by deafness, loneliness and personal trauma. A copyist is urgently needed to help the composer. A fictional character is introduced in the form of a young conservatory student and aspiring composer named Anna Holtz. The mercurial Beethoven is skeptical that a woman might become involved in his masterpiece but slowly comes to trust in Anna’s assistance and in the end becomes quite fond of her. By the time the piece is performed, her presence in his life is an absolute necessity. Her deep understanding of his work is such that she even corrects mistakes he has made, while her passionate personality opens a door into his private world.
MRQE Metric: 47
Reviews
Manohla Dargis
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
William Wolf
David Nusair
Tiziana Cappellini
Cynthia Fuchs
Matt Mazur
Sascha Keilholz
Bruce Feld
Mark Zimmer
Moira Macdonald
Marina Antunes
Brooke Holgerson
Nancy Keefe Rhodes
Bruce Bennett
Antonio Méndez Casanova
Rich Cline
Cole Smithey
Matt Mungle
Peter Bradshaw
