
Movie
Copying Beethoven
A fictionalised exploration of Beethoven's life in his final days working on his Ninth Symphony. It is 1824. Beethoven is racing to finish his new symphony. However, it has been years since his last success and he is plagued by deafness, loneliness and personal trauma. A copyist is urgently needed to help the composer. A fictional character is introduced in the form of a young conservatory student and aspiring composer named Anna Holtz. The mercurial Beethoven is skeptical that a woman might become involved in his masterpiece but slowly comes to trust in Anna's assistance and in the end becomes quite fond of her. By the time the piece is performed, her presence in his life is an absolute necessity. Her deep understanding of his work is such that she even corrects mistakes he has made, while her passionate personality opens a door into his private world.
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Checked Jul 22, 2026
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Synopsis
A fictionalised exploration of Beethoven's life in his final days working on his Ninth Symphony. It is 1824. Beethoven is racing to finish his new symphony. However, it has been years since his last success and he is plagued by deafness, loneliness and personal trauma. A copyist is urgently needed to help the composer. A fictional character is introduced in the form of a young conservatory student and aspiring composer named Anna Holtz. The mercurial Beethoven is skeptical that a woman might become involved in his masterpiece but slowly comes to trust in Anna's assistance and in the end becomes quite fond of her. By the time the piece is performed, her presence in his life is an absolute necessity. Her deep understanding of his work is such that she even corrects mistakes he has made, while her passionate personality opens a door into his private world.
More about Copying Beethoven
Cast
Ed HarrisLudwig van Beethoven
Diane KrugerAnna Holtz
Matthew GoodeMartin Bauer
Phyllida LawMother Canisius
Ralph RiachWenzel Schlemmer
Angus BarnettKrenskiCredits
- Directed by
- Agnieszka Holland
- Written by
- Christopher Wilkinson, Stephen J. Rivele
Production details
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- English
- Budget
- $11M
- Box office
- $6.2M
Production
Sidney Kimmel EntertainmentUnited States
Anomaly EntertainmentUnited States- Copying Beethoven UK LimitedUnited Kingdom
- Eurofilm StúdióHungary
VIP 2 MedienfondsGermany- Mandate InternationalUnited States






