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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

View All (7) Critics Reviews
J. R. Jones Chicago Reader 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. Dec 23, 2013 Full Review Bill Stamets Chicago Sun-Times Writer-director Kerry Candaele incisively documents the ideological legacy of opus 125 in Chile, China and Germany. Rated: 3/4 Dec 20, 2013 Full Review Robert Abele Los Angeles Times 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. Nov 21, 2013 Full Review Ken Eisner Georgia Straight 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. Mar 24, 2016 Full Review Louis Proyect rec.arts.movies.reviews 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. Nov 2, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member 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. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the best documentary films I've seen this year. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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