Want more recommendations for your family?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration
Copying Beethoven
By Cynthia Fuchs,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Period romance isn't original enough to score.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Copying Beethoven ?
Report this review
What's the Story?
COPYING BEETHOVEN chronicles the last days of Ludwig van Beethoven (Ed Harris). Hired to transcribe Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the fictional Anna Holtz (Diane Kruger) is also an aspiring composer who hopes to have the master help her with her own work. A student at the local conservatory, Anna wants to write great music; she imagines that copying for the master -- who's about to unveil the Ninth Symphony -- will help her in her career. But on her very first day, she does the unthinkable: She doesn't just copy a page of music, she alters it. Beethoven flies into a rage, of course, but Anna stands her ground, insisting that her change is what he must have intended. He admires her "spunk," and thus their collaboration is born.
Is It Any Good?
Copying Beethoven offers occasional enchantments, but it leans too heavily on stiff explanatory dialogue, usually filtered through the awkward role of the copyist. Anna serves as that most obvious of movie devices -- an audience stand-in. She's by turns awed, upset, and/or put off by Beethoven's broadly abusive persona.
While the pair's back-and-forthing is mostly mundane, their partnership leads to a spectacular scene in which Beethoven conducts the Ninth for the first time in public. Though he can't hear it, Anna conducts it from within the orchestra -- he can copy her copying him. With glorious music and a cascade of dissolving frames, the scene is easily the film's highlight, underscoring its point: that copying is a form of art in itself, a way to refine, alter, and make art again.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the creative process. How does the movie make the processes of composing and listening to music seem dynamic, rather than quiet, personal activities? How does it show that music is a sensual, emotional, and visceral means of communication? How does Anna provide a model of good moral behavior for her cantankerous employer? Does the movie make you any more interested in classical music?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 10, 2006
- On DVD or streaming: April 3, 2007
- Cast: Diane Kruger , Ed Harris , Matthew Goode
- Director: Agnieszka Holland
- Inclusion Information: Female directors
- Studio: MGM/UA
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 104 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: some sexual elements.
- Last updated: June 2, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate