Copying Beethoven
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.
Director
Agnieszka Holland
Writer
Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson
Cast
Ed Harris
Ludwig van Beethoven
Diane Kruger
Anna Holtz
Matthew Goode
Martin Bauer
Phyllida Law
Mother Canisius
Ralph Riach
Wenzel Schlemmer
Bill Stewart
Rudy
Angus Barnett
Krenski
Matyelok Gibbs
Old Woman
Karl Johnson
Stefan Holtz
Joe Anderson
Karl van Beethoven
