The movie ‘Immortal Beloved’ is a movie that I have mixed feelings about. Visually, this movie is great: beautiful interiors; the costumes are, even though not totally historically correct, very beautiful; the haircuts are a lot more varied then the ‘curly updo’ thing you usually see in costume movies. It’s also one of the few movies using mittaines (little gloves covering the wrist) and big shawls which to me are essential for Victorian outfits. And of course during the entire movie you can hear the beautiful music of Beethoven.
The use of two Dutch actors for two important roles seems curious, but their accented speech gives the movie a fitting, foreign, feeling.
What bothered me is above all, Gary Oldman, but that’s a personal quirk. The movie moves between different timeperiods so it’s hard to keep track of what happens sometimes. The movie shows Beethoven as a crazy, unlovable person, keen on bothering and annoying others. The movie puts Johanna van Beethoven forward as the Immortal Beloved, while current popular opinion favours Antonie Brentano.
The letter to the Unsterbliche Geliebte (immortal beloved) actually exists, but there is no consensus among Beethoven scholars as to the true identity of the intended recipient. Ladies who are considered possible recipients are: Giulietta Guicciardi, Therese von Brunswick, Antonie Brentano, Johanna van Beethoven, and Countess Anna-Marie Erdődy, almost all are featured in the movie.
Scholars have never identified who the woman was, but the film’s director, Bernard Rose, has controversially claimed in an interview that he has successfully identified the woman whom Beethoven loved and he shows his opinion in the movie.
In conclusion, this movie is beautifully made, with stunning visuals and music. Whether it is believable from a more academic point of view is to be debated. Some Beethoven lovers favour ‘Un Grand Amour de Beethoven’, so if you have the chance, make sure to watch it!
For more info on Beethoven himself you might want to check out this site (scroll past the Dutch intro), it has a great faq with lots of resources for further reading.
[...] 19thcentury placed an observative post today on Movie review: Immortal BelovedHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
While I adore both Beethoven and Gary Oldman (whose resemblance to Beethoven was amazing – as was his miming the piano part to the Emporer Concerto), the thought of Johanna Beethoven (his much detested sister-in-law and mother of his nephew Karl), is ridiculous. He could not stand the woman – and the suggestion that Karl was actually Beethoven’s son is equally ridiculous. I was astounded by this conclusion of the film – although the rest of the movie was a visual and auditory adventure.
Yay, this one is my favorite!!! I love it! :D
Where did you find for that great material? I tried to get some further details about it, but I wasn’t able to.
Hello, for me that sounds interesting, who knows what the future will bring… Let´s wait for it…
Nice Work man Your blog is so great.Thanks very much for posting this topic
solid review. keep the good work.wanna see a cool Japanese manga Watch Toriko Episodes Movies English Subbed Dubbed Online. HD Stream Episodes for free at torikoget
Great Blog! I’ll bookmark it! Thanks and ciao!
Hi We simply love your breathtaking site thank you and pls stick to it
Some genuinely nice and utilitarian info on this web site, also I conceive the design and style holds wonderful features.
The design for your site is a tad off in Epiphany. Nevertheless I like your web site. I may have to use a normal web browser just to enjoy it.
While an emotional thought and storyline he would despise the mother of Karl his beloved son and woman he is supposed to love… It is kind of disgusting and does not make sense. The movie and editing is riveting. The final plot point is gross and confusing.