Immortal Beloved(1994)- User Reviews

There's been a lot of comparisons between this film and Amadeus, and some complaints that Immortal Beloved should have been done like Amadeus instead of focusing on an obscure allusion to a lost love of Beethoven's. Personally, I think Immortal Beloved is such a different kind of film than Amadeus, the comparisons - and complaints - seem fairly weak. I was intrigued by this film because it weaved an interesting mystery (finding the unnamed "immortal beloved" mentioned in a letter found after Beethoven's death) with the history and music of one of the great composers. Beethoven's life story is an interesting one (going deaf and continuing to compose, for instance), and this movie did not skimp on providing stellar performances of his symphonies. The music was spectacular and I gained a new interest in the man of Beethoven through this film. It should be admitted, of course, that all the conclusions (and much of the story) about Beethoven's loves in this film is conjecture and is a result of some artistic speculation. But if you can come into this film with that understanding, the music and man will not disappoint.