Friday, June 12, 2015

Yup! Immortal Beloved!!


It is the reveal of my film today! This is hosted by Mock and The Armchair Squid where each month a movie is viewed and we critique it. This month, like last month, we could choose our own film and give three trivia questions the week before to see if you guessed the film.

My 3 questions were

1.  This '90's film stars a great actor who played everything from  a punker, a terrorist and a vampire?
 - Gary Oldman
2.  It co-stars a famous daughter of very famous parents.
-Isabella Rossellini who is the daughter of Roberto Rossellini (director) and Ingrid Bergman (actress)
3. It is a true story about a love letter found after the man died.
The love letter was written by Ludwig Van Beethoven and it was titled "To my Immortal Beloved."



This is simply a fantastic film that came out in 1994 and stars the great Gary Oldman, Isabella Rossellini, Jeroen Krabbe and Johanna Ter Steege. In fact I was hoping Gary Oldman would get an Oscar nomination for this role.

This film starts out with Ludwig's death  with throngs of people wanting to just touch the casket of the great composer. He was the huge star of his day. This, indeed, is what happened. I have read a bit about his life which is quite a thrilling life. His secretary/friend, Schindler, played by that wonderful Dutch character actor, Jeroen Krabbe, sets out to solve the mystery of who Beethoven's Immortal Beloved is. You meet 3 women who pass through his life-one when Beethoven is young, another that Beethoven could not stand. She ends up marrying his brother and  from this union you see the worst in "The Maestro." The third, Beethoven has a long standing affair/friend with a countess played by Isabella Rossellini. The 2 actors started a relationship on the set and were engaged for a time.

The music, Oh this beautiful, sent from the heavens, music that Beethoven composed, most of which he composed when he was completely deaf (maybe he heard some thump sounds but unsure) is obviously, throughout the film and it helps move the film forward. The anguish in Beethoven's eyes and face when it is revealed to the public that he can not hear is heart-breaking.

The nastiness of the man is shown along with his brilliance and genuine love he has for the people in his life but he is a man of  great complexity. Not an easy man to want to know and all this is conveyed by Oldman's performance and the writing.

Did Beethoven actually write this letter? Yes he did! There has been much speculation as to whom (who?? writers, help me) it may be, but I have read that it could have been as one sees it in the film. You will have to see the film to find out.

My favourite part is when the 9th symphony is played. It is a powerful piece of music set to Beethoven imagining when he was a child beaten by his drunken father (bastard!) and he runs and runs until he finds a shimmering pool of water. In this pool he floats and becomes one with the heavens-sheer magic!

Can you tell I love classical music? Yup!! Put this music on and I am on cloud 9 unless you play Wagner's Gotterdammerung in which case I am Homer Simpson with my eyes glazed over and drool on my shoulder.





84 comments:

  1. a new film for me to look out for Birgit you are certainly educating me!.....xxxxx

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  2. I've never seen that movie, and that was during a time when I was married to a movie fanatic...I'm surprised I missed that one!

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    1. Oh wow, well I hope you get a chance to see it-It is excellent

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  3. Neither have I seen the film nor heard of any of the actors. Shows how much I know. I think I would love to see it though. I too love classical music - or at least the better known works. My family and husband were all into classical music.

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    1. Oh I think you will enjoy this film. They have all the famous pieces he wrote in this movie.

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    2. Birgit, I have just rented Immortal Beloved from iTunes and will probably watch it this evening. Just thought I'd let you know.

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    3. And I loved it, what a fabulous movie. Think I am going to buy a copy of it. Thanks so much for introducing me to it.

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    4. Oh terrific!! Glad you love it!!

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  4. I haven't seen this movie, but it sounds good.

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  5. Great review of a great movie!

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  6. I missed this one too. Sounds wonderful, I love classical music and these actors. I finally got out to see a movie. We went during the day and I sat in the seat next to the empty seat for a wheelchair so I could stretch my leg. It was a small theater so even though we were in the back, we weren't too far back. We saw Love and Mercy which was incredible. The only fault I had was I would occasionally start wondering when John Cusack got so old.

    One of these days I will fix my ability to use my correct blog info....

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    1. It has been a long time for me actually seeing a film at the cinemas. I have to see this film but I agree that John Cusack does look quite old for some reason

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  7. I missed this one too. Sounds wonderful, I love classical music and these actors. I finally got out to see a movie. We went during the day and I sat in the seat next to the empty seat for a wheelchair so I could stretch my leg. It was a small theater so even though we were in the back, we weren't too far back. We saw Love and Mercy which was incredible. The only fault I had was I would occasionally start wondering when John Cusack got so old.

    One of these days I will fix my ability to use my correct blog info....

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  8. I missed this one too. Sounds wonderful, I love classical music and these actors. I finally got out to see a movie. We went during the day and I sat in the seat next to the empty seat for a wheelchair so I could stretch my leg. It was a small theater so even though we were in the back, we weren't too far back. We saw Love and Mercy which was incredible. The only fault I had was I would occasionally start wondering when John Cusack got so old.

    One of these days I will fix my ability to use my correct blog info....

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  9. I had not heard of this before but now I want to see if I can find it somewhere. Sounds like a great movie and I was so clueless on guessing which movie. I am picking up lots of movie trivia though reading your blog :)

    betty

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    1. Oh thank you:) I hope you can see it-great film

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  10. Hi, dear Birgit! When you posted this quiz I was completely stumped. I haven't seen this film but it belongs on my list of movies that Mrs. Shady and I could watch together. She is a huge fan of classical music, having watched Amadeus a dozen or more times. I'm not a fan to that extent but I do appreciate classical music and period films I'm sure she and I will be enchanted with the story and the music of Beethoven's Immortal Beloved.

    Thank you, dear friend BB, and have a great weekend!

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    1. I bet you will enjoy this film as much as Mrs. Shady probably will. It has mystery, romance, great music all done as a period piece. I will be shocked if you don't love it

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  11. Unsterbliche Geliebte!!

    Birgit, this is a favorite movie of mine, too. In spite of the ugly side of Beethoven that appeared in the movie (at times), I was completely drawn into it. That's the sign that it is a movie that "clicks" in my brain as memorable and worthy of a re-view.

    Great choice!

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    1. Yes It is such a wonderful film and the story, acting and music just makes it so memorable

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  12. Have to add it to the list I think. Quite the visual with you going Homer lol

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    1. Yes well you would too if you sat through a Wagnerian Opera:)

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  13. Yup, great flick. I once wrote a blog post in which I talked about how my own love for classical music originated. It's here, if you're interested!

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    1. By the way, my sister Kathy wanted me to tell you that, due to outrageous problems with her fifteen-year-old computer, she won't be able to post for the foreseeable future.

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    2. I will check it out for sure about what you wrote and sorry to hear about Kathy and her computer. I wanted to ask her about some gardening tips.

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  14. Wonderful movie - so dark! I love Beethoven. For musicians, he's our Shakespeare. I've always preferred this one to Amadeus.

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    1. Yes, me too, I love this one better than Amadeus even though Amadeus is also very good

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    2. The world needs more composer movies!

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  15. I don't think I've every seen this one. I have seen a great bio-pic of Beethoven though. "Copying Beethoven." He also went deaf and died young of an illness, like Mozart. Isn't that weird? Have a good weekend!

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    1. That is weird-he is like a combo of Beethoven and Mozart.

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  16. I am so watching it this weekend. That scene you described is probably one of the more (if not the most) poignant moments in the movie...and so beautiful. Yes, must watch it again.
    hugs, Asha

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    1. I hope you enjoyed watching the film again. I am thinking of making a card with this as an inspiration.

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  17. Yeah, that was kind of a sad one. I've always been partial to Beethoven's 7th, myself.

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    1. The 7th is a masterwork and my favourite is the 6th

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  18. You've sold me, Birgit. I'm looking for it at the library. If it's not there, I'm putting it on my netflix list.

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    1. Oh goodie! Let me know if you like it at all.

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  19. Terrific review.
    Your clues were really clever and fit the movie so well.

    cheers, parsnip

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  20. BIRGIT ~
    I will need to see this movie. Mainly because although I don't like most "modern" movies, I know that, like me, you love the old Classics. So, if an "Old School" movie fan like you so highly recommends a modern movie like this, I owe it to myself to trust you and check it out. And I will.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

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    1. Oh I am with you on old films of course. I have seen many new films and some I like but few grab me into that dream land like the great old films which I date from the early '60's and before. This film is one that makes me dream again

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  21. I have the DVD and have watched the film a few times. I entirely agree with your assessment. It's a wonderful film. I can never remember who is in movies though so those hints weren't of much help to me.

    Have you seen the BBC film "Eroica"? I love the way they did that one. No real story, but just the recreation of the premiere presentation of the 3rd Symphony.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Wrote By Rote

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    1. Glad you know the film well and no I have not seen that film "Eroica.". I will have to mark that down

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  22. I'll be on the lookout for Immortal Beloved after reading your wonderful review. Great line about Homer Simpson! Sadly, I know that look all too well.

    Julie

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    1. Hahaaaaa-I have had that look on more than one occasion. I hope you get to see the film.

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  23. What a wonderful film and a lovely review. You can really sense the passion you have for the music and the appreciation you have for the artists and the portrayal of this life. You make me want to watch this again. Thanks.

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    1. Oh yes I just love classical music and the genius of Beethoven.

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  24. Beethoven was a complex, musical genius wasn't he?

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    1. Complex is just the beginning but he was a genius

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  25. As mentioned before I had not heard of this, but it sounds very cool. Especially since it's based on a real letter. And it's funny to think of Beethoven being a rock star of his time, isn't it?

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    1. It's a great film and yes it is weird to think of him that way but they did!

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  26. This sounds like a really interesting film. I love Beethoven.

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    1. I hope you see it and be inspired to make a card-I want to do that

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  27. If it's a Gary Oldman film, I'm good with that. :)

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    1. He is a great actor and he is excellent in this

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  28. I don't remember this movie! You've definitely convinced me to check it out though.

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  29. It is a truly brilliant film. One of my all-time favourites. Great review, by the way!

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  30. I haven't seen the movie, but your review makes it sounds fabulous. Thank you for sharing so many insights!!!

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  31. This sounds like a very good film and one I would like to see. I checked Netflix, but it's unavailable to stream.

    Thank you for visiting my blog, that was most kind of you. You paint miniatures as well? What scale do you work in and what genre do you paint? I notice that you are of German descent. The best miniature painters in the world are German. Perhaps you know of Roman from Hapsburg. He is a renowned painter and a judge for the Crystal Brush award.

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    1. I have not painted miniatures in a long time but I do enjoy it. I find it relaxing. I like painting thing, small for Christmas and I love fantasy figures. I have not heard of this person but will look him up:)

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  32. I love classical music. I used to listen to my mom's records. I have never heard of this movie. Gary Oldman is a good actor. My husband loves him. I wonder if he'd watch this with me.

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    1. I would say to give this a try because the music is throughout the film

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  33. I've watched and listened to Beethovens Moonlight Sonata several times over played by different pianists. It took pure brilliance to create awesome music like this. I can't get over the sheer speed of the notes played at the end of the 15 minute sonata.

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    1. I agree 100%. He is a genius and his music takes my breath away

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    2. PS - I nominated you as a creative blogger passing the happy vibes around. I hope you don't mind. I posted more details in my most recent blog post. Enjoy the weekend Birgit

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  34. I KNEW IT!

    LOL. No I didn't. I told you I suck at movie stuff. That's why I have you to educate me! Thank goodness for your blog - it's provided at least half of my old holly wood knowledge!!

    Oh, whom vs who used to drive me crazy, until I read this good tip online - if you change the sentence around to a singular male pronoun, you can figure out which it should be. So in other words, if we pretend Beethoven was totally gay, and that we know the dude he wrote the letter to, that would make your sentence, "Beethoven wrote the letter for him." If it's him, then you should use whom. If it's he (which it's not here, obviously,) then you should use who. I can remember this because both him and whom end with m! Hope this helps :)

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    1. Thanks for the tip and I have to reread this more than once for it to sink into my fatty cells called my brain

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  35. Who knew Beethoven was such a romantic? Nice.
    You should go on Jeopardy or at least play a lot of Trivial Pursuit. I'd be scared to played against you.

    Happy Friday and weekend, dear BB.

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  36. Have a wonderful weekend, Birgit.

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  37. I like classical music, as well. And, even though I like Wagner, I try to avoid his music. Because every time Wagner plays, I feel like invading Eastern Europe.

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    1. Yes quite true...geez I hope Putin didn't listen to it

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  38. We saw that movie a few years back and you're right, it's an incredible film.
    R

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