"Copying Beethoven"

Title: "Copying Beethoven"
Director: Agnieszka Holland
Producer: Christopher Wilkinson
Editing: Alex Mackie
Composers:
- Ludwig Van Beethoven (Primary source)
- Antoni Lazarkiewicz (Thematic elements)
Starring
- Ed Harris as Ludwig van Beethoven
- Diane Kruger as Anna Holtz

Plot and Critical Review: "Copying Beethoven" tells the story of Classical (era and style) composer Ludwig van Beethoven; regarded by many musicologists to be one of the greatest composers of all time. The story gives specific regard to (and is set in) the short period of time leading up to the premiere of Beethoven's legendary 9th Symphony. The story begins, however, with young Anna Holtz traveling to Vienna to "copy" Beethoven's transcripts of the 9th. In this period of time it was typical for a composer to employ several copyists to "clean up" their scribble before it could be sent to the publisher. Sent from a highly regarded music school, Anna comes because she is the best composition student and worthy of working alongside Beethoven. It is also her intention while working alongside the master to show him some of her own music. She simply has no idea of the challenge ahead of her.

Life in the 19th century was anything but simple and this was especially true for women. At once we become familiar with Anna's struggle as a woman composer and musician as everyone treats her as anything but what she is; an accomplished copyist. Even Wenzel Schlemmer (Ralph Riach), the owner of the company that publishes Beethoven's music, mistakes her for a nurse until she hands him the note referring her to Beethoven. She is also mistaken for a cleaning lady and a prostitute before she stands up for herself. But the most difficult aspect of her task in Vienna is in her relationship with Beethoven who has become entirely deaf by the time he composes the epic and everlasting 9th Symphony.

Although he cannot believe Schlemmer sent a woman! to work with him Beethoven accepts her services and she works with him day in and day out until the symphony is completed. It's during this time that Beethoven opens up to Anna and shares with her the deep struggle he faces as a man and a musician but a person who cannot hear anything that happens around him. This is what he says just moments before walking on stage to conduct the premiere of the 9th:

"Everyone things I live in silence; it's not true. My head is constantly filled with sound, it never stops. The only relief I have is to write it down. God infests my mind with music and then what does he do? He makes me deaf! He denies me the pleasure he allows everyone else, hearing my work. Is that a loving God?! Is that a friend?!"

Much like Sallieri's great contest with God displayed in "Amadeus" Beethoven is also in a wrestling match with God here. At every turn and challenge Beethoven looks to God for comfort, or for an answer; for reason in the midst of his madness. Of his relationship with God Beethoven says this: "I understand God perfectly, Anna Holtz, we are like two bears in one den. We growl and snarl and claw at one another; sleep at each other's backs. No one dares come near us." Beethoven also draws a great line between his music and the voice of God; believing that his music is nothing less than God speaking to him and to all mankind. For this reason he treats the gift of music with such tender sincerity and ferocity when necessary. This is also exceptionally important for Anna (who lives at the convent while she works with Beethoven) as she experiences God first-hand through Beethoven and his music.

The 9th Symphony is a triumph and everyone worships Beethoven and his great success. When Beethoven experiments in writing music that is no less than 200 years before its time he is shunned by the public but Anna embraces his creativity and is one of the first to "hear" what Beethoven intends in his new and compelling works. She is at his bedside when he dies and the film ends with a shot of her laboring over a composition of her own; she finally achieved her goal.

While "Copying Beethoven" is an endearing and dramatic tale it is full of historical inaccuracy. The person Anna Holtz (at least the one who copied Beethoven's 9th Symphony) never existed and it is still in great debate whether Beethoven conducted the premiere of the 9th himself. While there are many other inaccuracies which have great meaning to a music enthusiast such as myself, I cannot bring them against the motion picture as I could not use plot deviation against "Prince Caspian" yesterday.

Ed Harris continues his string of amazing method-acting roles. If you've not seen his performance in "Pollock" it is worth watching alongside "Copying Beethoven" so as to appreciate his great talent and "knack" for portraying historical characters who are well-known for their eccentric personalities/tendencies. Harris' study of music and conducting is put to good use as he impresses (but may not convince some) during the long but never belabored sequence of Beethoven and Anna conducting the 9th together (Beethoven at the podium and Holtz hidden with the orchestra). Shot with cultural accuracy in mind the film is a vessel of transport that takes us deep into the life of this troubled yet gifted composer. While it received poor reviews upon opening and is regarded by some as one of Harris' weaker projects, I believe it is worthy of praise, indeed.

My Rating: 7.5/10

The "Reel Revelation": "Lord, Let Me Hear Your Voice..."

If you are even remotely romantic and have ever had the fortunate experience of being in love with someone you know the feeling that comes alongside hearing the voice of your beloved. At the end of a long day the phone rings and you hear the sweetest sound of all, your darling calling out your name. Not to forget the fire that burns within as a reaction to how they speak in a moment of passion. Yikes! Do you get the picture?

How does this work out for a person who can't hear?

For a musician the sweetest sound belongs to music itself, of course. It's no wonder that so many songwriters and singers have compared every other beautiful thing in the world to a song. Can you imagine Beethoven's angst and anger at God that he is unable to experience what other people take for granted? Even worse, that he is unable to experience what so many have proclaimed as being their ultimate joy! Give this quote another read:

"Everyone things I live in silence; it's not true. My head is constantly filled with sound, it never stops. The only relief I have is to write it down. God infests my mind with music and then what does he do? He makes me deaf! He denies me the pleasure he allows everyone else, hearing my work. Is that a loving God?! Is that a friend?!"

Here is a man conflicted to the core. He knows that the music placed within his mind of from God, but he is unable to enjoy it as others do; in the moment, live. Shouldn't he be happy to be the chosen vessel of such magnificent music?! Shouldn't Beethoven rejoice that God chose him to carry such sublime melodies and musical sequences in his mind, giving birth to them for all the world to enjoy? It seems he never came to that point and is only embittered against God for being locked in a world of silence. But still, Beethoven heard the voice of God.

We are a foolish people and in our foolishness stuff our ears with cotton; the sort of cotton that blocks out everything but what we want to hear. Convenient, isn't it? It's awfully convenient when God is whispering a word of direction, correct, or admonition into our ears that we simply cannot (or will not, most likely) bear. But still, we hear the voice of God.

Every person wants someone to listen to them, to take an active interest in their lives and what they have to say. God also wants us to listen to him; but not at all for the same self-centered and foolish reasons we lift up to achieve attention for ourselves. God wants us to listen to his voice because his words are the way to eternal life. This sentiment is laid down for us in the Gospel of John as several of Jesus' disciples (not the "inner" 12) are leaving Jesus because his words and actions are becoming more and more challenging to bear. When Jesus asked them (the 12) if they also wanted to go away Simon Peter replied "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6: 68)

Have you ever heard a person say "I just don't think God is speaking to me" or "I can't hear God's voice"? No doubt you've also spoken those words yourself, and for good reason. Those of us who know that Jesus' words are the way of eternal life yearn without ceasing for him to speak to us, to share with us the wisdom of Heaven, that we may live righteous lives. And even though we may not hear an audible voice (some who have been Christians for decades will tell you they've never heard such a voice) God will still speak to us in ways clearer and more definite than any human word. For Beethoven, God's word was in music. For a painter, God's instruction may be in a streak of paint on the canvas. The creative Spirit of God will find a way to reach us if we call out "Lord, let me hear your voice!"

See you tomorrow - E.T.