The immortal beloved
What I liked most about the film was the romantic letter written by Ludwig Beethoven. I like the letter because it showcases the loving nature of Beethoven. Most people hated him and thought he was not capable of love because of his rude and obstinate character. His brother Nikolaus said that Ludwig hated women and so he was not capable of loving them. Although Ludwig loved his nephew Carl, their relationship turned sour after Ludwig pressured the boy too much. The letter, however, proves the people wrong as it was evidence of the loving and romantic side of Ludwig. I also liked how the message was read several times in the film. The ending where Johanna was reading the letter was most appealing. It was a harsh reality for Johanna when she realized that Beethoven was late for their meeting because of the storm and not because he did not love her.
I did not understand whether Karl was the son of Ludwig. In a flashback by Johanna, she tells Beethoven that she was expecting his child. During the film, it is clear that Johanna had only one son by Casper Beethoven. I did not see any other child by Johanna, and so it was not clear whether Karl was the son of Ludwig Beethoven or Casper Beethoven. Also, I did not understand why Beethoven was deaf but could speak. The film did not show at what exact age Ludwig lost his hearing. Also, from the flashbacks, it was not clear whether Ludwig was deaf during his childhood too or it was a defect he got in his adulthood.
My favorite character is Anton Schindler, the secretary to Ludwig. Schindler shows total dedication to Ludwig even after his death. In his death wish, Ludwig indicated that his entire fortune was to go to his ‘immortal beloved’ and he gave neither a name nor an address. Schindler would have easily hidden the last testament of Ludwig and claimed all his fortune since the name of the heir was not mentioned. However, he sets on a journey throughout the land to find the mysterious lady Ludwig loved. Schindler does not get intimidated by Nikolaus; instead, the threats only propel his urge to find the ‘immortal beloved’ love of Ludwig. My least favorite character was Nikolaus Beethoven, Ludwig’s younger brother. Nikolaus is only interested in the fortune of his brother and does not care about his dying wishes. He even discourages Schindler by telling him that Ludwig hated women and that his efforts would turn futile.
The use of the music of Beethoven enhanced my viewing experience. The music gives the film an authentic touch as well as helps any viewer connect with the character of Beethoven. The music also acted as a bridge in between the film which killed monotony. As such, the use of music of Beethoven enhanced my viewing experience.
All the events in the film seemed accurate. The setting of the filmed matched the time the actual events took place. The music of Beethoven in the movie also enhanced the authenticity and believability of the film. Furthermore, the characters portrayed realistic emotions that made the film appealing.
The part of the film that did not seem to match reality was the deaf state of Beethoven. Most people who deaf people are mute, which was not the case of Beethoven. However, as the film progressed, I concluded that Beethoven did not become deaf at birth since he could speak and also write. The age where Beethoven lost his hearing was not entirely clear in the film. Also, it was not clear whether Karl was the son of Beethoven. If he was not, the film does not show what happened to the child Johanna conceived by Beethoven.