The great composer Beethoven (British actor Oldman) dies and a funeral is held. His secretary, Anton Schindler (Dutch actor Krabbe), discovers among his papers a letter that leaves everything in the composer's will to his "Immortal Beloved," whose identity is (and remains to this day) a mystery. Schindler travels across Europe in search of the likely candidate, which includes Hungarian countess Anna Marie Erdody (Rossellini), sister-in-law Joahann Reiss (ter Steege), and an attractive piano student named Giuletta Guicciardi (Golino). We see many flashbacks of Beethoven's life, going back to childhood with his abusive father. Writer-director Bernard Rose put together this odd, sumptuous film in 1994, when he was only 34 years old. Set mostly in Vienna (and shot in Prague), it is visually and aurally rich (with the marvelous Murray Perahia doing the solo piano work), and Oldman does an admirable job in an impossible role, but ultimately dissatisfying. Especially strange are a number of Kubrick and "Clockwork Orange" references Rose includes in the movie.
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The review of this Movie prepared by David Loftus
This movie, written and directed by Bernard Rose, is about the life of Ludwig van Beethoven, expertly played by Gary Oldman. It starts with a former assistant to Beethoven, Anton (Krabbe) finding his controversial and unexplained letter to his secret lover, or his "Immortal Beloved" as he LVB puts it. He then goes on a quest to find this
Immortal Beloved and a picture of Beethoven's entire life is produced through the vague memories of his past lovers. Though the story is a bit weak, the visuals and acting couldn't be better.
The review of this Movie prepared by Michael Gookin
