Copying Beethoven

Ed Harris
Diane Kruger
Ralph Riach
Directed by: Agnieszka Holland


Copying Beethoven is a fictional account of the last year of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s life. He is at the downturn of his career, a completely deaf, has been all but written off by the aristocracy and considered a dinosaur by many in a changing music world. While finishing his latest symphony, he is in need of a copyist and a young woman named Anna Holtz (Kruger) is introduced into his life. Her company revitalizes a dying man and motivates him to past greatness.

First of all, Ed Harris is a master in the role of Ludwig van and at times it is easy to get caught up in the film and completely lose yourself when he is in screen. The chemistry of Harris as a cantankerous and confused old man and Kruger as a naïve and impressionable young woman who is enamored by a master makes for more than a few remarkable scenes that will stick with you long after you’ve left the theater. Beethoven’s music is added at just the right moments adding power and a sort of beauty to these scenes. Unfortunately, a major flaw in the film is director Agnieszka Holland’s unnecessary need to divide an interesting and compelling film with imagery and metaphor that spends more time distracting from and sidelining this linear story than actually complimenting or enhancing it. By the end of the film it seems like you are watching a battle between excellent acting and a director’s vision that keeps getting in the way. Unfortunately the director tends to win out and we are left with a film that, while full of wonderful and moving moments will leave audiences scratching their head wondering what the importance of a slightly out of focus woman running through a field has to do with anything at all. This is really unfortunate because if you can look past the distractions and confusion you are left with more than a few beautifully touching moments.
 

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