In Search of Beethoven offers a comprehensive documentary about the life and works of the great composer. Over 65 performances by the world’s finest musicians were recorded and 100 interviews conducted in the making of this beautifully crafted film. It delves beneath the mythical image of the tortured, cantankerous genius to search for the real Ludwig van Beethoven. Narrated by Juliet Stevenson and young Royal Shakespeare Company actor David Dawson. “One of the finest movies about a great musician I’ve ever seen” — The Observer.
Rating: 
(out of 4 reviews)
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September 2, 2010
#1
Review by S. P. Tustain
Rating:
Congratulations to Phil Grabsky and all those involved in putting together this excellent 2-disc DVD set. I first saw the more than 2-hour documentary at a cinema and was enthralled. Since then I waited with great anticipation for the release of the DVD. Because I’m from New Zealand I purchased a PAL version from Amazon UK last year. It’s great to see that North American Beethoven fans will soon be able to enjoy it too. I certainly haven’t been disappointed. Doing justice to such a complex and fascinating genius as Beethoven is no easy task, but this documentary achieves it admirably. We are left feeling that, despite a few forgivable foibles, Beethoven was truly a wonderful human being whose legacy is an unrivaled body of music that spans the spectrum of emotions. For me the most memorable part in the film, where music, musician and film-maker work sublimely is around the 88th minute. Hélène Grimaud is playing the slow movement of the 5th Piano Concerto. It brought tears to my eyes. On Disc 2 there are interesting and useful extras, including an interview with Phil Grabsky and full movements of works shown in part during the main feature. As a result of seeing the documentary I’m sure you will be inspired to listen again to your old Beethoven CDs (or vinyl), or to buy some new ones. Cheers, Richard.
September 2, 2010
#2
Review by mirasreviews
Rating:
Phil Grabsky directed, wrote, and filmed “In Search of Beethoven” as a comprehensive, though compact, tour of Ludwig van Beethoven’s life and music. Narrator Juliet Stevenson fills in the blanks and segways between commentary by 28 musicians, composers, musicologists and historians, and excerpts of 55 live performances that take us through Beethoven’s biography and his work. Actor David Dawson reads from Beethoven’s letters to give us insight into the emotions and circumstances behind the great composer’s creations. The progression is chronological, from Beethoven’s birth in Bonn in 1770 to his death in 1827 at age 56, touching on this major works and placing them within the context of his deteriorating health and hearing, growing isolation, anguish and successes.
Most of Beethoven’s story is told by the artists and scholars whom Phil Grabsky interviewed and through his music. The narration is secondary. This sets “In Search of Beethoven” apart from most documentaries, as the people who are his legacy, those who play his music now, are telling his story in their comments on the music they love. They all seem to know something of the circumstances from which Beethoven’s works emerged and are able to comment on the man’s state of mind as reflected in what he wrote. In this way, the film takes issue with the conventional view of Beethoven as a perpetually melancholy misanthrope and sees a persistent, if sometimes cautious, optimism and humanism in his worldview that comes through strongly in his music.
It views the man through his music more than most documentaries do. This is nice for those of us who have only a passing familiarity with Beethoven, as we are able to hear his long and varied output and discover which pieces appeal to us. Beethoven aficionados may enjoy the insight by many acclaimed musicians and composers and the variety of performers we get to see and hear. At 2 hours and 18 minutes, “In Search of Beethoven” feels long. But it is presenting a great variety of commentary and performance, so the length is justified, and it`s the best introduction to Beethoven that I’ve seen. In mostly English with optional French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese subtitles. The bonus disc (Seventh Art 2010) contains the complete movements of the music in the film, deleted scenes, an interview with Phil Grabsky, and “In the Edit Room” featurette.
September 2, 2010
#3
Review by Larry Koler
Rating:
Excellent production. The filming is so compelling that you don’t want to take your eyes off the screen. Good mix of biography and Beethoven’s music being played. And the pieces aren’t cut too short for once.
The best thing of all is the interviews with the wonderful and eccentric artists who play in orchestras and who are highlighted by interviews where we learn directly from them about what they think about Beethoven, about playing his music and then there is the wonderful use of closeups on the artists’ fingers on the keyboard or on the violin or on the cello or on just the strings of the cello!
Finally, the editing is so professional and smooth that it seduces you into thinking that only a half-hour has gone blissfully by.
September 2, 2010
#4
Review by S. A. Felton
Rating:
I’ve seen many great documentaries about music and musicians, but this is maybe the best one I’ve ever seen. Thanks to the other reviewer who wrote that 28 musicians or musical historians were featured, though I must say I thought it was more than that. The viewer gets the story of Beethoven’s life and his music seamlessly in a very balanced production that flows perfectly from beginning to end. As I was watching it, I kept thinking over and over about the incredible time and expense the maker of the documentary must have gone to in order to produce it. He gave some of the greatest musicians in the world the opportunity to play and discuss Beethoven’s works, along with filming many, many different musicians (solo and in larger groups) from different countries performing the works. It was so enjoyable for me to listen to the music simultaneously along with the heartfelt insights of the great musicians who play this timeless art and know it so well. I much appreciated the comments of the players, but maybe even more so the comments of some of the conductors. The insights that I will remember most were by the conductor who commented on the “joy” and brotherhood Beethoven depicted in the last movement of the 9th symphony, which the conductor rightly points out are more idealistic than what is really attainable in life.
Another aspect of the film I appreciated were the excerpts of a number of the lesser known works, which are sometimes given more time than the more well known pieces (e.g., very short excerpts of the 7th and 8th symphonies). I now feel inspired to check some of these works out.
I can’t praise this documentary highly enough. I actually borrowed the 2+ hour main disc, and will look forward to seeing the extras disc at some point.