Copying Beethoven (2006): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2006, Copying Beethoven is a drama film directed by Agnieszka Holland, running about 104 minutes.

What it’s about. 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.

Who’s in it. Copying Beethoven stars Ed Harris as Ludwig van Beethoven, Diane Kruger as Anna Holtz, Matthew Goode as Martin Bauer and Phyllida Law as Mother Canisius, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Copying Beethoven has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $6.2M at the box office.

Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Copying Beethoven page.

If you liked it. Fans of Copying Beethoven tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.