BEETHOVEN'S NINE: Ode to Humanity is a film about war, hope and music's relevance to our society.
BEETHOVEN'S NINE is a documentary about music, but also about war and hope. It follows nine unique individuals, including Ukrainian musicians, a deaf composer, a Polish rock star, a best-selling author, a legendary cartoonist and Weinstein himself, as they try to better understand the legacy of Beethoven's Ninth, the composer's own struggles, the inspiration music can provide and how humanity continues to look for hope even in the darkest times.
83 minutes
SDH Captioned
(available for streaming use only)
Directed by Larry Weinstein
Produced by Jason Charters, Bernhard von Hülsen, Liam Romalis, Maria Willer
Executive Producers: Wolfgang Bergmann, Sarah Polley
Editor: David New
Writers: Larry Weinstein, David New
Directors of Photography: John Minh Tran, Filip Drozdz,Sven Jakob-Engelmann
A Production by Riddle Films and 3B-Produktion
"This brave, richly imagined, eye-opening, and ear-ravishing film dares to place Beethoven's timeless masterwork in the context of the modern world with all its challenges, from war to climate change. And it succeeds."
"How can Beethoven's utopian vision be squared with a world riven by these seemingly endless cycles of violence? No film can answer that question. BEETHOVEN'S NINE poses it with particular clarity, and makes clear what's at stake. It ends with a reflection on the work's aspirational qualities, its way of holding open a space for the creation of a better world."
Michael Spitzer, Professor of Music, University of Liverpool, Author, Music as Philosophy: Adorno and Beethoven's Late Style
"How can Beethoven's utopian vision be squared with a world riven by these seemingly endless cycles of violence? No film can answer that question. BEETHOVEN'S NINE poses it with particular clarity, and makes clear what's at stake. It ends with a reflection on the work's aspirational qualities, its way of holding open a space for the creation of a better world."
Jeremy Eichler, Boston Globe
"BEETHOVEN'S NINE's unexpected twists and turns are expertly woven together with the sounds of Beethoven echoing in the background throughout. These are very impactful stories, and my mind sang out, 'Bravo!' as the light faded in the last image of the symphony on stage. It is inspiring to see how Beethoven's music gives hope to people in so many different ways."
"BEETHOVEN'S NINE: Ode to Humanity is a sweeping exploration of the overarching themes connected to this important work, from Beethoven's own lived experiences and intent, to what the piece has come to mean in the world at large. The documentary uses the piece to connect various people, times, cultures, and places, weaving a history of common human experiences into one story. Using the Ninth Symphony, current events and the film maker's own personal sorrows, the film explores themes of freedom, hope, and beauty, but most importantly, human connection."
Daniel Tague, Assistant Professor of Music Therapy, Southern Methodist University
"This brave film shows not only how Beethoven's most famous symphony still speaks to us today but also how we can speak to each other, aided by the galvanizing power of music. Here we encounter a fascinating group of people from different creative contexts who by turns ruminate, suffer, and rejoice, and whose responses to Beethoven's music, to his life, and to their own lives are at times almost unbearably moving. With its unflinching candor as well as its hopeful faith in humanity despite the worst evidence to the contrary, BEETHOVEN'S NINE is sure to inspire profoundly meaningful, deeply felt, and badly needed discussions in both community and classroom settings."
Scott Burnham, Professor of Music, Graduate Center-City University of New York, Author, Beethoven Hero
Scott Burnham, Professor of Music, Graduate Center-City University of New York, Author, Beethoven Hero
"BEETHOVEN'S NINE: Ode to Humanity is a sweeping exploration of the overarching themes connected to this important work, from Beethoven's own lived experiences and intent, to what the piece has come to mean in the world at large. The documentary uses the piece to connect various people, times, cultures, and places, weaving a history of common human experiences into one story. Using the Ninth Symphony, current events and the film maker's own personal sorrows, the film explores themes of freedom, hope, and beauty, but most importantly, human connection."
Diana M. Hollinger, Professor of Music and Dance, Coordinator of Music Education, San Jose State University