Classical music aficionado or
no, it's tough not to be moved
by the soaring notes of Ludwig
van Beethoven's Ninth
Symphony. The work stands as
both a defining highpoint in
the composer's career and a
dynamic and beguiling legacy
of its era. An imaginative
exploration of Beethoven's
life in his final days working
on the Ninth,
more

Classical music aficionado or
no, it's tough not to be moved
by the soaring notes of Ludwig
van Beethoven's Ninth
Symphony. The work stands as
both a defining highpoint in
the composer's career and a
dynamic and beguiling legacy
of its era. An imaginative
exploration of Beethoven's
life in his final days working
on the Ninth, Copying
Beethoven draws inspiration
from the music itself.
Directed by acclaimed
filmmaker Agnieszka Holland,
the film is both thrilling and
romantic.

It is 1824. The composer,
played brilliantly by Ed
Harris, 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 finish in time for
the scheduled first
performance - otherwise the
orchestra will have no music
to play. Insightful young
conservatory student and
aspiring composer Anna Holtz
(Diane Kruger) is recommended
for the position. 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 - a moment in
history captured in an
exquisitely moving shot from
Anna's perspective, as she
sits on the orchestra floor
helping the deaf Beethoven to
keep time - 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 proud,
private world.

Harris is no stranger to
bringing iconic,
larger-than-life figures to
the screen; his lead
performance in Pollock was a
masterful exploration of a
tormented but talented artist.
He channels a similar esprit
here: his Beethoven is ribald
and volatile, vulnerable and,
ultimately, endearing. He is
matched in intensity and skill
by Kruger, who makes the young
Anna both an enraptured
apprentice and a paragon of
willful female independence
and ambition. These two
characters break down barrier
after barrier, and the result
is a harmonious wonder.

Category Entertainment

Tags Classical, Music, Beethoven, ninth, symphony, copying, official, trailer