Gave it two Starrs for the fine acting and the wonderful sets and costumes. Taht's about it. IT was very melodramatic and hard to follow. Maybe if you already know about the life of Beethoven this film would make sense, but for me, not so much. I could never figure out who was who and what the actual relationships were.

Obviously, a great deal of money spent on this film - sets, costumes, etc., and fine actors hired, but irksome how trashy Hollywood script writers can rewrite the lives of heroes and people of great talent to reveal "the true insanity" that caused their great deeds.

the letter !!!! is amazing

A mad genius who was deaf. Interesting story about a mother, her son and uncle.

Worth the watch for anyone interested in Beethoven.

An exceptional film that takes a look at the life of the composer- and no doubt takes liberties along the way. Oldman gives one of his usual terrific performances as Beethoven, who we see almost entirely in flashback. The story follows his executor (the always welcome Jeroen Krabbe) as he tries to find the woman behind the enigmatic Immortal Beloved letter. The cast includes the radiant Isabella Rossellini, Valeria Golino, and Johanna Ter Stegge. And the direction pays attention to the details, while weaving in the music of the maestro along the way. It follows the composer in some of the ups and downs of his life, but ultimately is uplifting.

Great movie! Gary Oldman, Isabella Rossellini star in this story based on the life of Ludwig van Beethoven. How accurate is it ... not quite sure . All I know is the man was a music genius.

I found this film lush with color and music even if the plot was very, very far from the truth of beethoven's life.
gary oldman is always a plus.

I love Gary Oldman as an actor. He is the kind of actor who can play anything! Yet, I did not enjoy his portrayal of Beethoven. It seems in the last years movies set out to destroy anyone's character, and this one is not an exception. Beethoven is a rude, uncouth, selfish, crude, violent, tormented being. I don't say he was a saint, but I cannot believe he was as portrayed. Besides, there are so many inaccuracies it is difficult to list them all. His brother, Kasper, actually left Beethoven and Johana (Karl's wife) with join custody of their child, the young Karl. Director Bernard Rose statement of Karl's origin (among other "facts") has been refuted in a book by Gail Altman. The choice of the "immortal beloved" ("Unsterbliche Geliebte" from the 3 letters found after his death) has no basis in any historical account, and is mere speculation. Anton Schindler is portrayed as a patient, devoted, humble friend; yet his books about Beethoven had some statements refuted by historians.