| | | The Untold Story of Ludwig van Beethoven.
Features: Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.40:1, Dolby Digital (5.1), English, Korean, Spanish, Subtitled, French, Dubbed & Subtitled
Gary Oldman, Jeroen Krabbe, Isabella Rossellini and Valeria Golino star in Immortal Beloved, a mesmerizing mystery based on the real life of Ludwig van Beethoven. Oldman gives a tour de force performance as the passionate, volatile genius who inspired love and hatred in equal measure. Whether seducing regal followers or criticizing the ruling class, Beethoven made many enemies. But he also had one true love--the unnamed "immortal beloved" mentioned in an enigmatic letter discovered after his death. The thrilling search for the identity of this mystery woman leads us into Beethoven's dark past, his hidden passions, and, ultimately, into the unparalleled genius of his music.
"Passionate and transfixing..." Frederic & Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality & Practice
"A masterpiece." John Corcoran, KCAL-TV
"Oldman is an ideal choice for the leading role." Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide
"...an opulent, musically rich period piece." Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
"...a fantasy about Beethoven that evokes the same disturbing, ecstatic passion we hear in his music." Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Editor's Note
A lush, epic staging of the life and loves of Ludwig Van Beethoven, this film examines the tempestuous composer through one man's search for Beethoven's supposed "Immortal Beloved." The sequence involving the first public performance of the Ninth Symphony is particularly stirring.
Plot Summary
Shortly after Ludwig van Beethoven's death, a mysterious letter signed by the musical genius appears: "What longings with tears for you...my life...my everything...farewell then...Go on loving me, ever yours, ever mine, forever, L.." These mysterious words prove the existence of one true love for Beethoven in the midst of numerous affairs -- and never a marriage -- with countesses. However, throughout history, Beethoven's "Immortal Beloved" remains unknown until now, where with enough evidence, Beethoven's "longing" is revealed, disclaiming all previous theories and biographies about one of the greatest composers who ever lived.
| Features | Audio: English, French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound | | Dubbed: French | | Interactive Menus | | Original Behind-The-Scenes Featurette | | Scene Selection | | Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Arabic | | This Is A Blu-Ray DVD Made For Blue-Laser Format Players Which Produce Higher Quality Picture & Sound |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Sony Pictures |
| Release Date: 8/21/2007 |
| Running Time: 121 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1994 | | Catalog ID: 20871 | | UPC: 00043396208711 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English, French Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: Arabic, English, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Widescreen 2.40:1 |
| Cast & Crew
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| | Professional Reviews | Rolling Stone
"...Glorious music..." 01/26/1995 p.66New York Times
"...Beethoven dazzlingly impersonated by [Oldman]....An extremely ambitious classical music video..." 12/14/1994 p.C15 Entertainment Weekly
"...It exerts an irresistible pull....Fine as an evocation of an artist who was able to hold the cosmos between two deaf ears." -- Rating: B 01/20/1995 pp.34-5 Sight and Sound
"...[The] tiny details show that someone has done their homework..." 03/01/1995 p.41 Chicago Sun-Times
"...A film that imagines the mental states of Beethoven with a series of images as vivid and convincing as a dream..." 01/06/1995 p.33 Empire
3 stars out of 5 -- "Oldman gets the madness of the man perfectly; but the real star of the show is Rose, who time and again finds brilliant evocations of Beethoven's music..." 03/01/2009 FilmCritic.com 8 of 10
My pick of the week goes to Immortal Beloved, a limited-release movie about the life and times of Ludwig von Beethoven. Gary Oldman plays the Maestro with finesse and style, filled with all the emotion and angst Oldman is becoming famous for...In an effort to create another Amadeus, the film chooses to use Beethoven's will, wherein he leaves his estate to a nameless "immortal beloved"...Of course, one expects a certain liberty with the truth in Hollywood, and the triumphs of this film shouldn't be tarnished by such an outdated concept like reality. The real stars of the film are Beethoven's music and the visual imagery used to portray what the musical passages are trying to say. This technique breathes new life into his work, the film ending with a stunning visual interpretation of Beethoven as an abused child, set to the strains of the spectacular "Ode to Joy." Regardless of the truth, the impressions left from the film are not easily forgotten. - Christopher Null
ReelViews 7 of 10
Those who prefer more than a token of historical fact in their biopics may be less-than-enamoured with Immortal Beloved, an erratic look at the life of Ludwig van Beethoven (played by Gary Oldman). Writer-director Bernard Rose is obviously more concerned with telling his version of the tale than in remaining anchored in reality...the film's biggest failing is its characterization of Beethoven. Not only is he shown to be a selfish, crabby, arrogant womanizer (which is probably accurate), but we're rarely given more than a surface look into his personality. Because we're forced to watch him from an emotional distance, it's difficult to generate much sympathy...There are times when the script is unworthy of the subject matter...Nevertheless, negatives aside, the plot holds the viewer's interest, even if it doesn't touch the heart. Immortal Beloved is the sort of flawed movie that still has enough assets to allow it to be enjoyed. - James Berardinelli
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