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

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

2011

1h 18m

Drama

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86%

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7 Reviews

93%

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50+ Ratings

The impact of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on people's lives around the world.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Audience Member

One of the best documentary films I've seen this year.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

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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

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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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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