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83 minutes SDH Captioned Grades 10 - 12, College, Adults Directed by Larry Weinstein Produced by Jason Charters, Bernhard von Hülsen, Liam Romalis, DVD Purchase $350, Rent $95 US Release Date: 2025 Copyright Date: 2024 DVD ISBN: 1-961192-33-0 Subjects Classical Music Disabilities Enlightenment European Studies Health History Humanities Mental Health Music Performing Arts Philosophy Psychology War and Peace Awards and Festivals Special Jury Prize, Parma International Music Festival Finalist, Prix Italia Finalist, Golden Prague International Television Festival Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival Toronto International Film Festival Film Circuit Salt Spring Film Festival Beyond Borders Documentary Festival Jecheon International Music & Film Festival Miami Jewish Film Festival Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival Lane Doc Fest |
Beethoven's Nine Ode to Humanity ![]() A deeply personal exploration of the legacy and resonance today of Beethoven's 200-year-old Ninth Symphony.
[Note: Community screenings of BEETHOVEN'S NINE: Ode to Humanity can be booked at Bullfrog Communities.] In early 2023, filmmaker Larry Weinstein sets out to make a documentary about Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. It is supposed to be about how far we have come in the two hundred years since it was written. But when world events pull Larry into his own film, the question becomes a deeply personal one.
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. Scott Burnham, Professor of Music, Graduate Center-City University of New York, Author, Beethoven Hero "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." 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 powerfully juxtaposes several narratives: the deaf composer and his enduring legacy, born of Enlightenment ideals; Bernstein's response to the fall of the Berlin Wall; the Ukraine Freedom Orchestra birthed from the pain of that conflict; and director Larry Weinstein's personal anguish at the loss of his sister and brother-in-law to Hamas last year. Woven throughout is the enduring belief of Beethoven's continued power to speak to future generations of Freude/Joy (Beethoven/Schiller), Freiheit/Freedom (Bernstein), Slava/Glory (Keri-Lynn Wilson) and ultimately of love. The Ninth forms the backdrop to each of these scenes, affirming yet again the depth of human emotion present in Beethoven's masterpiece." Paul Ellison, President, American Beethoven Society, Lecturer of Music History, San Jose State University "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." Daniel Tague, Assistant Professor of Music Therapy, Southern Methodist University "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 "Beethoven's Nine: An Ode to Humanity is a poignant and deeply personal meditation on the struggle against the human-made and natural barriers that drive people apart. This is no hagiographic, academic rhapsody about the transcendence of a 'Great Work'; rather, the poetically elliptical documentary asks how art can help us confront the challenges of the present moment. This film could serve as a launching point for discussions on a variety of topics, including war, philosophy, disability, climate change, colonialism, and the sociopolitical impact of the arts." Devin Burke, Associate Professor of Music History, University of Louisville "There can be little doubt that Beethoven's Ninth Symphony has captivated listeners far and wide. Aware of its fabled status, film director Larry Weinstein presents the work not as a museum piece atop a distant pedestal, but as a musical testament to the better angels that potentially dwell in the human spirit. Now more than ever, such a message is one that needs to be frequently and loudly repeated." James Parsons, Distinguished Professor of Music History, Missouri State University |