Copying Beethoven
A gifted young copyist becomes the indispensable collaborator and student of an increasingly isolated Beethoven on the eve of the Ninth Symphony's debut.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- earnest
- intense
- melancholic
- classical music evening
- historical drama night
What critics said
Critics largely viewed the film as a pretentious, slow historical drama, while consistently singling out Ed Harris's forceful Beethoven performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and its first performance organize the central creative conflict and his attempts to express transcendent ideas.
Anna Holtz is presented as a fictional assistant and student within Beethoven's final years, while Beethoven himself is a historical figure.
Beethoven tutors Anna in composition and Romantic principles while relying on her practical assistance with his work.
Anna guides Beethoven from the orchestra pit during the Ninth Symphony's debut, making the act of conducting central to the film's dramatic language.
Films like Copying Beethoven, and why
Amadeus
music-centered historical drama focused on a volatile genius and an intimate creative partnership
Immortal Beloved
romanticized biographical drama about an iconic composer, artistic ambition, and personal turmoil
The Piano
period music drama pairing a gifted young woman with an influential male artist amid creative and emotional tension
Shakespeare in Love
literary historical drama about artistic genius, mentorship, and the pressures surrounding major work
Movie Details
- Director
- Agnieszka Holland
- Release Date
- 2006-09-10
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (195)
Cast
- Ed Harris
- Diane Kruger
- Matthew Goode
- Phyllida Law
- Ralph Riach
- Bill Stewart
- Angus Barnett
- Viktoria Dihen
- Matyelok Gibbs
- Karl Johnson
Common questions
- What is Copying Beethoven about?
- A gifted young copyist becomes the indispensable collaborator and student of an increasingly isolated Beethoven on the eve of the Ninth Symphony's debut.
- What is Copying Beethoven like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Copying Beethoven as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Copying Beethoven violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Copying Beethoven.
- What did critics think of Copying Beethoven?
- Critics largely viewed the film as a pretentious, slow historical drama, while consistently singling out Ed Harris's forceful Beethoven performance.
- Which films are like Copying Beethoven?
- Films with a similar feel include Amadeus, Immortal Beloved, The Piano, and Shakespeare in Love.
- How long is Copying Beethoven?
- Copying Beethoven runs 104 minutes.
