Immortal Beloved
Immortal Beloved is a 1994 biographical film written and directed by Bernard Rose and starring Gary Oldman, Jeroen Krabbé, Isabella Rossellini and Johanna ter Steege. The film narrates the life of composer Ludwig van Beethoven (played by Oldman) in flashbacks while it follows Beethoven's secretary and first biographer Anton Schindler's (Krabbé) quest to ascertain the true identity of the Unsterbliche Geliebte (Immortal Beloved) addressed in three letters found in the late composer's private papers. Schindler journeys throughout the Austrian Empire interviewing women who might be potential candidates, as well as through Beethoven's own tumultuous life.
Plot
When Ludwig van Beethoven dies, his assistant and close friend Schindler deals with his last will and testament. It reads that his estate, music and affairs will be left to his "immortal beloved," but there remains a question as to who is Beethoven's "immortal beloved," an unnamed woman mentioned in one of his letters. Schindler embarks on a quest to find out and meets the women who he knew had played a part in Ludwig's life.
Cast
- Alexandra Pigg
- Barbora Srncová
- Barry Humphries
- Bernard Rose
- Christopher Fulford
- Claudia Solti
- Donal Gibson
- Gary Oldman
- Geno Lechner
- Gerard Horan
- Hugo Kaminský
- Isabella Rossellini
- Jan Čenský
- Jan Kuželka
- Jeroen Krabbé
- Johanna ter Steege
- Luigi Diberti
- Marco Hofschneider
- Marek Vašut
- Michael Culkin
- Miriam Margolyes
- Pavel Vondruška
- Ruby Rose
- Sandra Voe
- Tomáš Hanák
- Valeria Golino
More details
| author | Bernard Rose |
|---|---|
| contentLocation | Austria |
| director | Bernard Rose |
| genre | drama |
| keywords | abandon anton schindler arrest betray breaking point deathbed his ninth symphony johanna reiss johanna van beethoven kill last will and testament love affair ludwig van beethoven married misunderstand obsess schindler symphony no. 9 unmarried woman |
| musicBy | George Fenton |
| producer | Bruce Davey Stephen McEveety |
| productionCompany | Columbia Pictures Icon Productions |
| publisher | BBFC Entertainment Film Distributors Sony Pictures Releasing |
| recordedAt | Czech Republic |
| theme | biographical biographical drama musical |