All About Beethoven: Best Beethoven Biographies

A fictionalized account of the last year of Beethoven's life.

"Eroica" is an Austrian film from 1949 that illustrates the life and work of composer Ludwig von Beethoven.

A biopic exploring Beethoven's tumultuous life, focusing on his romantic pursuits. The film investigates the identity of the mysterious woman to whom the composer penned a passionate love letter, delving into his complex relationships.

Lyrical biography of the classical composer, depicted as a romantical hero, an accursed artist.

The first truly comprehensive feature length cinema documentary ever made about Beethoven. With over 60 live performances.

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

This lavish historical drama illuminates the story of the world-famous composer from different perspectives.

A dramatized documentary on the life and music of Ludwig van Beethoven.

On June 9, 1804, Ludwig van Beethoven and his pupil Ries assemble a group of musicians to give the first performance of his Third Symphony, 'Bonaparte', to his patron Prince Lobkowitz and his guests, including hypercritical Count Dietrichstein, in Vienna. The piece provokes political arguments among players and audience as to whether Bonaparte is a tyrant, or, as Beethoven believes, a liberator. The composer is also rejected by his former love, the recently widowed Josephine von Deym, though the visiting elder statesman of composers Haydn pays him a strange compliment. Leaving the gathering, Beethoven confesses to Ries that he is losing his hearing and later he reads that Bonaparte has declared himself the French emperor. As a result he will lose all respect for Napoleon and will change the symphony's title to 'Eroica'.

In an effort to provide a secure future for his nephew Karl, Beethoven is fighting his sister-in-law over the custody for the boy. The mother doesn't consider the ageing and irate composer a suitable guardian for her son, and Karl himself shows not much interest in his uncle either.

Vienna, 1813-1819: Beethoven (Donatas Banionis) is at the peak of his fame. Orchestras all over the world play his music, but he lives modestly and is dependent upon private patrons. Nagged by his patronizing brothers, spied upon by officials for his republican beliefs and faced by his progressive hearing loss, the composer becomes more and more isolated.