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Following the Ninth: In the Footsteps of Beethoven's Final Symphony

Play trailer Poster for Following the Ninth: In the Footsteps of Beethoven's Final Symphony 2011 1h 18m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
The impact of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on people's lives around the world.

Critics Reviews

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader 12/23/2013
The film is badly overconceived, especially when Candaele divides her subjects' stories into five chapters based on the symphony's respective movements, but the personal reminiscences are stirring and occasionally heartbreaking. Go to Full Review Bill Stamets Chicago Sun-Times 12/20/2013
3/4
Writer-director Kerry Candaele incisively documents the ideological legacy of opus 125 in Chile, China and Germany. Go to Full Review Robert Abele Los Angeles Times 11/21/2013
Despite the good intentions, structurally it's all over the place with an excess of montages, archival footage, interviews and information practically drowning out any chance to appreciate the richness of the German composer's beloved achievement. Go to Full Review Ken Eisner Georgia Straight 03/24/2016
The film rarely lets you contemplate the music without competition from strong images, and another five or so minutes could have offered background to the work itself. But like Beethoven's, this Ninth leaves you wanting more. Go to Full Review Louis Proyect rec.arts.movies.reviews 11/02/2013
A perceptive look at how the "Ode to Joy" served as an anthem for liberation struggles, something Beethoven clearly intended as a partisan of the French Revolution. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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05/17/2014 Doesn't quite soar the heights that the music ought to reach ... out of the four narrations, would wish the Japanese one get more playing; the other three were mostly singular narratives, so did not quite feel complete the picture. See more 04/22/2014 This seems like an interesting premise for a documentary, but it never really grabbed by interest. The movie also kind of forgot that it was about Beethoven for the majority of its running time. See more 12/20/2013 One of the best documentary films I've seen this year. See more 10/31/2013 Let me say out front that I am co-producer of this film, and have also written a book with the director, Kerry Candaele, called "Journeys With Beethoven," so I know something about the subject. No hype, all I will say is read the fine reviews and then make up your own mind. I think the film will appeal equally to music fans of all sorts (I am an old rock 'n roller myself), plus those interested in recent history and politics and human rights--and the human spirit. See more Read all reviews
Following the Ninth: In the Footsteps of Beethoven's Final Symphony

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Cast & Crew

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Kerry Candaele

Director

Kerry Candaele

Screenwriter

Nick Taylor

Executive Producer

Lady Birgit Baum

Executive Producer

Dr. Adam Lemmer

Executive Producer

Kevin McGrath

Executive Producer
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Following the Ninth: In the Footsteps of Beethoven's Final Symphony

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Movie Info

Synopsis The impact of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on people's lives around the world.
Director
Kerry Candaele
Producer
Kerry Candaele, Kirt Eftekhar, Ali Eckert, Oliver Herder
Screenwriter
Kerry Candaele
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 3, 2019
Runtime
1h 18m