Musikanten

While two TV writers are trying to start a new program, one of them (Sonia Bergamasco) somehow finds herself (or, more correctly, himself; there has been a change of sex in the meantime) in 1826, gravitating around Ludwig van Beethoven, the great composer (Alejandro Jodorowski in a strange cast choice). In his masterpiece as a singer/composer, "La voce del padrone", there was a song, "Bandiera bianca", where Battiato told us "A Beethoven e Sinatra preferisco l'insalata" ("Salad is better than Beethoven and Sinatra"). We can just hope: a) that his next film will talk about salad: it will be surely more interesting than this incredible mess. b) that his next film will never see the light: the second effort of two of the more successful Italian singers (the other is Ligabue), after a very promising debut as directors (with an aid of someone else?), is something we are not going to forget, and that's not said in a positive way. Anyway, Antonio Rezza almost saves the film in a short cameo role. Watch this at your peril.

I choose this movie because I was intrigued by Beethoven's life. In fact, what I got is an awful movie, without any sense. The plot is absolutely unlikely, the acting is mediocre. All we can see of Beethoven in this movie is that he was nearly deaf and ill-tempered. The movie doesn't show the atmosphere and the cultural context in which he lived, nor the creative process of a great composer. The only things acceptable are locations and music (of course Beethoven's music), but they aren't enough to save this movie. The movie has been written and directed by a musician so I expected much more sensitivity and respect for one of the greatest composer of all the time. Perhaps the author didn't have a clear idea about what to tell with this film. My opinion is: forgettable and absurd movie.