Köln 75

Play trailer

2:11

Köln 75

Oct 2025

1h 52m

Drama

Music

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Keith Jarrett's legendary performance in January 1975 nearly didn't happen. Based on a true story, Köln 75 follows how the concert was conceived and orchestrated by the efforts of a teenage up and coming concert promoter, Vera Brandes, (played by German actress Mala Emde). Her enthusiasm set her to multitasking -- from organizing the concert venue (the Cologne Opera House), promoting the event, and selling the tickets, to convincing Jarrett to perform when he almost dropped out when the Bösendorfer Imperial Grand piano he was promised was nowhere to be found. John Magaro plays Jarrett with his own intensity, a sublime counterpoint to Mala Emde's joyful portrayal of the enthusiastic and unstoppable Vera. Köln 75 captures the compelling, entertaining and, until now, unknown back story about Jarrett's one-hour, entirely improvised concert, which became the best-selling solo album in jazz history.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Köln 75's lively performances, playful use of clichés, and jazz-like chaos make it an unexpectedly compelling and irresistible watch.

Read Critics Reviews

Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (LAist)

Oct 31

It's a very fun and clever film.

Go to Full Review

David Ehrlich

IndieWire

Oct 18

B-

Even the most formulaic scenes in the film bop with the zest of history being lived first-hand, as if the script were happily oblivious to its own clichés.

Go to Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

New York Times

Oct 17

A movie that’s a little too eager to be liked. But it’s also tough to resist.

Go to Full Review

Rachel West

That Shelf

Nov 25

Like jazz itself, Köln 75 thrives on improvisation, bold choices, and fearless energy, reminding us that sometimes the most memorable performances happen offstage.

Go to Full Review

Jared Mobarak

Hey, Have You Seen ...?

Nov 21

8/10

Fluk infuses an energy that makes veracity an afterthought to entertainment. Köln 75 is instead about vibes, jazz, and the woman who made The Köln Concert iconic despite the guy who happened to be playing the music on-stage.

Go to Full Review

Ethan J. Rosenberg

In Review Online

Nov 5

Rubs the edges off of other hipster-adjacent pieces of media... in its amiable and largely successful attempt to dramatize the recording of Jarrett’s legendary live album for us. But hey, snobs need crowd-pleasers, too.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Dick K

Dec 3

The unique story of the special concert in Cologne can be easily imagined without film. Director Fluk has taken refuge in mere clichés while the placement in the time spirit of the hunting seventy has been conveniently developed. My biggest objection is the protagonist suffering from favouritism. All this could have been much more nuanced, as other celebrated filmmakers prove. Warning: Here and there attempts at humour!

See more

Radek V

Nov 27

⭐️ Rating: 10/10 📍 Cinema, VIFF 2025 | As a closing film for the Vancouver Film Festival, Köln 75 couldn’t have been a better choice. The movie vibrates with determination and rhythm that mirrors jazz improvisation itself. Mala Emde as Vera Brandes explodes with energy — she runs, negotiates, risks everything, and makes you believe every emotion along the way. The film works both as a tribute to those who dare to go against the system and as a vibrant, visually intoxicating story full of hope and pulse. From what seemed like a quiet festival closer emerged one of the liveliest, most inspiring, and most uplifting films of the year.

See more

James B

Oct 28

I was taken by total surprise. Was not sure what I was going to see and I was enchanted and loved it particurlay the performance of mala Emde! Worth seeing in the theater.

See more

Harper A.

@harperaltschul1 Oct 27

I absolutely loved this movie. Highly recommend!

See more

Stephen C

@bob25009 Oct 17

Funny in 1 hour and 52 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $33,700.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Ido Fluk

Director

Mala Emde

Vera Brandes

John Magaro

Keith Jarrett

Michael Chernus

Michael Watts

Alexander Scheer

Manfred Eicher

Ulrich Tukur

Dr. Brandes

The Musicians

%

%

The Musicians

Watchlist

The Ballad of Wallis Island

96%

93%

The Ballad of Wallis Island

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Ballad of Wallis Island

Wild Rose

92%

87%

Wild Rose

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Wild Rose

Blinded by the Light

89%

91%

Blinded by the Light

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Blinded by the Light

Inside Llewyn Davis

92%

74%

Inside Llewyn Davis

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Köln 75: Trailer 1

2:11

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Keith Jarrett's legendary performance in January 1975 nearly didn't happen. Based on a true story, Köln 75 follows how the concert was conceived and orchestrated by the efforts of a teenage up and coming concert promoter, Vera Brandes, (played by German actress Mala Emde). Her enthusiasm set her to multitasking -- from organizing the concert venue (the Cologne Opera House), promoting the event, and selling the tickets, to convincing Jarrett to perform when he almost dropped out when the Bösendorfer Imperial Grand piano he was promised was nowhere to be found. John Magaro plays Jarrett with his own intensity, a sublime counterpoint to Mala Emde's joyful portrayal of the enthusiastic and unstoppable Vera. Köln 75 captures the compelling, entertaining and, until now, unknown back story about Jarrett's one-hour, entirely improvised concert, which became the best-selling solo album in jazz history.

Director: Ido Fluk
Producer: Sol Bondy, Fred Burle
Screenwriter: Ido Fluk
Distributor: Zeitgeist Films
Production Co: One Two Films
Genre: Drama, Music, Comedy
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 9, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $41.2K
Runtime: 1h 52m

Most Popular at Home Now