A fictionalized account of the last year of Beethoven's life.
Director:
Agnieszka Holland
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Title: Copying Beethoven (2006)
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2 wins & 5 nominations.
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Cast
| Credited cast: | |||
| Diane Kruger | ... | Anna Holtz | |
| Ralph Riach | ... | Wenzel Schlemmer | |
 |
Matyelok Gibbs | ... | Old Woman |
| Ed Harris | ... | Ludwig van Beethoven | |
| Bill Stewart | ... | Rudy | |
| Angus Barnett | ... | Krenski | |
|
|
Viktoria Dihen | ... | Magda |
| Phyllida Law | ... | Mother Canisius | |
| Matthew Goode | ... | Martin Bauer | |
|
|
Gábor Bohus | ... | Schuppanzigh |
| Joe Anderson | ... | Karl van Beethoven | |
| David Kennedy | ... | Neighbor | |
| Nicholas Jones | ... | Archduke Rudolph | |
| László Áron | ... | Judge | |
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
|
|
Márta Hainfart | ... | Soloist (Soprano) |
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
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Storyline
Vienna, 1824. In the days before the first performance of the Ninth Symphony, Beethoven needs help with copying out the charts, so a promising student of composition, Anna Holtz, 23, is sent to assist him. She not only aids the transcription of the notes, she provides guidance from the orchestra pit as Beethoven conducts the work's debut. During the next two years, the final ones of Beethoven's life, Anna provides assistance to the deaf, temperamental, ailing man. In return, he tutors her in composition and explains to her the ideas and principles of Romanticism. He tries to speak for God. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
Plot Keywords:
music student | music copyist | musical composition | period drama | mgm |Taglines:
He was the greatest composer of his time. One last performance would define his genius. See more »Parents Guide:
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Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Gewandhausorchester Leipzig (as The Gewandhausorchester Leipzig)
Conducted by Kurt Masur
Courtesy of Decca Music Group Limited, part of Universal Music Group International
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Ed Harris and Diane Kruger also appeared in National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007). See more »Goofs
After Anna Holtz catches Karl van Beethoven stealing and Karl runs out the door, Anna quickly runs to her desk takes off her jacket. In the next shot it is back on and she takes it off again. See more »Quotes
Ludwig van Beethoven: The vibrations on the air are the breath of God speaking to man's soul. Music is the language of God. We musicians are as close to God as man can be. We hear his voice, we read his lips, we give birth to the children of God, who sing his praise. That's what musicians are.See more »
Soundtracks
Symphony No. 7 in A major Op. 92Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Gewandhausorchester Leipzig (as The Gewandhausorchester Leipzig)
Conducted by Kurt Masur
Courtesy of Decca Music Group Limited, part of Universal Music Group International
See more »
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Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
8 March 2007 (Hungary) See more »Also Known As:
Copying Beethoven See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$11,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$70,460, 12 November 2006Gross USA:
$384,029Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$6,191,746Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
Greetings again from the darkness. Films on icons and historical figures are always risky. Either the greatness (or evil) is exaggerated or the dramatization leaves us feeling empty. Director Agnieszka Holland ("Europa, Europa") attempts to capture the ego and genius of "the monster" Ludwig Von Beethoven in a dramatized version of his last year.
The beautiful Diane Kruger (wonderful in "Joyeux Noel", and also in "National Treasure") plays Anna Holtz, the copier/transcriber for Beethoven's famous 9th symphony as well as his final quartets. It does have similarities to Beauty and the Beast, but the film falls short in capturing his genius. All we get for an explanation is Beethoven's shouts of "God speaks to everyone, but he screams in my ear".
Ed Harris, continuing his knack for playing the crazed artist ("Pollack" "Winter Passing") does an admirable job in heavy make-up and wig attempting to show us the constant torture of the musical genius, who is so clueless on how to deal with the little people.
Harris and Kruger do fine work in their many scenes together, but the film never truly captures the greatness or genius of the artist. The closest it comes is the wonderful version of the 9th as we see Beethoven and Anna working closely (very sensually) to pull off the first public performance. Instead Ms. Holland keep it in the form of a small film, which is not altogether a bad thing.