THIS FILM INCLUDES SENSITIVE TOPICS,
INCLUDING SELF-INJURY.
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED.
That's all from me.
Class president, give the commands.
Stand up.
Bow.
Goodbye!
Goodbye.
Get home safely.
It would be expensive to buy.
But it's the same with rental cars.
After all, your own...
Excuse me.
Nomura, what's the matter?
I'd like to borrow the key
to the music room.
Did you forget something there?
Yes, my pencil case.
You can take it.
Thank you.
MUSIC ROOM
What's wrong?
The key to the music room is missing.
The key to the music room?
Maybe Mr. Kuroda is still there.
Why don't you go check?
Yes.
Goodbye.
Goodbye.
Excuse me.
What is it?
I'm sorry. I forgot something here
- You forgot something?
- Yes.
I see.
I thought you came to listen to me play.
Ah, no Not really.
You don't have to say it so bluntly.
I'm sorry.
Found it?
I did.
Okay.
Would you like to listen to the piano?
Sure.
It's okay if you don't want to.
Care for some coffee?
Coffee?
Yeah, I'm making myself a cup.
You want some?
Yes, thank you.
All right.
Then let's brew some coffee.
Is it okay?
Yeah, but just make sure
you keep it a secret.
Sure.
So, do you know who composed
the piece I just played?
That was
Beethoven.
Yes.
You know a lot.
You know,
Beethoven liked coffee too.
Some say he'd count exactly 60 beans
each time he brewed it.
Wow.
Are you using 60 beans too?
This is just an approximate.
Oh, I see.
Here.
Thank you.
This is also a secret.
Sure.
Did you know
that the standard CD playing time
was set at 74 minutes based on
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony?
Yes, I knew that.
You did?
How about this, then?
The piano keyboard's durability
was improved based on Beethoven's input.
Wow, I didn't know that.
I see.
Nomura,
what kind of image
do you have of Beethoven?
Image?
He was a genius composer.
Well, he certainly was a genius.
And
I read his biography
when I was in elementary school.
- Beethoven's?
- Yes.
Supposedly, he said that
the "da-da-da-dum" in the Fifth Symphony
was the sound of fate
knocking at the door.
Ah, that story is famous.
Also, he was hearing-impaired.
Yes, yes.
So
He overcame those obstacles
and composed music.
An amazing person.
Well, that's the general image
people have of him.
Is it not true?
Of course he was amazing.
But, approximately 150 years
after his death,
many lies surrounding him were discovered
that generated a controversy.
Lies?
Beethoven had a secretary named Schindler.
Schindler?
Yes.
He turned out to be
quite a troublesome character.
FAKING BEETHOVEN
My name is Anton Felix Schindler.
I have no notable education
or work experience.
Naturally, no money either.
I dropped out of college seven years ago,
and now I play the violin
in a theater orchestra.
I was born in a rural town
as the eldest son of a teacher.
And if I may say so myself,
I was quite brilliant from a young age.
My father taught me to play the violin,
and, when I was ten, I joined a choir
and became obsessed with music.
However, for a country boy
with no connections or lineage,
making a living from music
was an unrealistic dream.
So I decided to enroll at the
University of Vienna's School of Law,
a proper career path
for a brilliant student.
But soon after that,
I became immersed in the patriotic culture
shaped by the Napoleonic Wars.
I dressed in medieval German fashion,
which was popular
among students at the time.
And with this newfound patriotic fervor,
I actively participated
in student movements.
But, as a result,
I was arrested.
When I came to my senses, it was too late.
I had disappointed my parents,
and lost my honor as a top student,
and my career prospects.
All that remained for me was music.
Luckily, with the rise of civil society
after the French Revolution,
being a musician was starting to become
a viable profession.
Then, one day,
at a theater renovation party
where I was playing the first violin,
a special guest arrived.
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Ludwig van Beethoven.
A musician I had admired
since I was a young boy.
His ambitious music had a huge influence
on me during my formative years.
I had listened to all his works
and played them.
And now my idol was right in front of me.
However, my first impression was
Is that really Beethoven?
Because, in my mind, Beethoven was
A tall, stylish,
talented-looking gentleman.
But the man before me
who was supposed to be Beethoven
was a short, shabby, middle-aged man.
Yet, I was actually moved
by this very contrast.
To think that this shabby-looking old man
created all those wonderful masterpieces.
I wanted to talk to him, even if briefly.
Surely, just a greeting would be fine.
Excuse me.
This is the genius composer
who created Pathtique Sonata
and Pastoral Symphony.
Up close, he looked even shabbier.
Or rather, just plain dirty.
His pockets were stuffed
Excuse me. You are Mr. Beethoven, right?
I've been your fan...
So, what did you like about it?
A young nobody like me can't even get him
to make eye contact.
What's with this guy?
Acting all important,
even though he's past his prime.
I'll never listen to your music again,
you old geezer.
In fact, I'm going to spread rumors
about you.
By the way...
Excuse me.
Maestro
What?
Can you write it down on this?
Then, I finally understood.
I remembered I'd heard rumors
about his hearing problems.
But I didn't know they were true.
He didn't ignore me.
He simply couldn't hear me.
I've been your huge fan
since my student days.
I know all of your compositions.
Oh, thank you.
Shaking hands with my idol Beethoven.
Although his hands were a bit slimy,
I was happy.
At that moment,
as if under a spell,
I became completely captivated by him.
I can hire you, if you're interested.
What?
I'm looking for a secretary right now.
A secretary?
Me?
Springing that on him so suddenly
will bewilder him.
You're right.
I'd love to!
And so, the following month,
I became Beethoven's official secretary.
DECEMBER, 1822
Several weeks had passed
since I began working as his secretary.
They say geniuses are often eccentric
and unable to take care
of their personal affairs
Should we throw this away?
Don't throw it away. I like it.
Just leave it there.
He was beyond eccentric.
In fact
I told you I don't like fatty meat!
He had a short temper that gave
everyone around him a hard time.
That, in turn, gave me a sense of mission
that only I could assist him.
So I took care
of all his personal matters.
From writing proxy letters
for negotiations with publishers
To giving counsel to his nephew Karl.
He's seriously way too controlling.
- That's how much he cares about you.
- No, no.
I handled everything,
even looking for a new house.
There are two suitable houses.
Both have courtyards
and are close to hot springs.
Hot springs? That's nice.
Both get a lot of sunlight during the day.
Outstanding! You're incredible!
I was simply happy to be needed by him.
And then
Early that summer,
Beethoven and I
moved to a suburb in Vienna.
After moving in, I took the role
of gatekeeper as well.
Yes.
My name is Adam Liszt.
Mr. Adam Liszt. What can I do for you?
Well, my son aspires to be a pianist.
Come on, introduce yourself.
I'm Franz Liszt.
He's a talented kid.
I was hoping
he could play for the maestro.
Did you have an appointment for today?
No, we didn't make an appointment.
I'm very sorry,
but without prior arrangements,
I cannot let you in.
I see. But if he could just listen once...
Who was that?
Someone called Adam Liszt.
Why did you chase them away?
He showed up all of a sudden
without an appointment,
so I asked them to leave.
I see.
Do you two always drink white wine?
I prefer beer.
That's right.
Oh, you're a beer person.
CZERNY - SCHUBER- How about you?
- Oh, I'm...
It's time to leave.
Come on! A bit longer.
What's the rush?
Well then, see you.
Ah, yes.
See you.
What's with that hanger-on?
I heard he's recently
become his secretary.
He doesn't seem very flexible.
He doesn't have a good reputation.
You don't say.
He gave off an unpleasant vibe.
He's the maestro's fanatic.
Really, he can't do anything without me.
Is that so?
You amaze me.
What?
You look like
you'd do anything for Beethoven.
Well, as his secretary,
I do whatever I can.
Although, I can't compose music.
You're so devoted to him
that if anyone speaks ill of him
you look like
you might stab them with a knife.
No, I wouldn't go that far.
I may look up their address, though.
That's creepy.
What?
Hey, are you doing all right lately?
I've been hearing
unfavorable rumors about you.
Right, Johann?
BEETHOVEN'S BROTHER
JOHANN
What kind of rumors?
That you hardly let people into my house.
Or that they can't talk to me
because you stand next to me
and give off a "stay away" vibe.
Maybe you're going a bit too far?
Maestro is a celebrity.
If you engage with everyone
who approaches you,
you will be exhausted.
You see, because of you,
people may think
I'm a pain in the neck too.
I properly screen and only allow in
the people Maestro should meet,
so please don't worry.
That's what I mean by going too far.
I am your bodyguard as well.
I don't need a bodyguard.
Who do I need protection from?
I remember the other day
a friend of mine said to me that I looked
like I might stab someone with a knife
if they spoke ill of Beethoven.
What?
Hey, Papageno.
Papageno!
I'm talking to you.
Are you talking to me?
Who else is there?
Somehow, he and I just don't click.
I thought we clicked perfectly.
That's exactly what I mean.
You can't read the room.
And your reactions
are completely off the mark.
I don't want excuses.
Because of him,
people think I'm a pain in the neck too.
Do you understand, Papageno?
Papageno
What's "Papageno"?
Papageno is a character
in Mozart's opera The Magic Flute.
He's an unattractive birdcatcher.
A birdcatcher?
Why did they give him that nickname?
In the opera, Papageno undergoes a trial
in which he must not speak to anyone.
In other words, the nickname means
"don't run your mouth."
That sounds kind of mean.
Nothing but meanness.
So was Schindler offended by it?
Well, other people would certainly be.
Papageno!
Papageno!
Hey!
Where is he?
Went to a meeting with the publisher.
I'll be back by evening.
Papageno.
Why's he gone and why's he taken a liking
to that nickname?
CONCERTMASTER
SCHUPPANZIGH
Maestro Schuppanzigh.
What a coincidence.
Let me introduce him.
SCHUPPANZIGH'S STUDENHOLZ
This is my student, Holz.
Hello.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
Why don't you sit here?
- May I?
- Sure. Bring a chair.
What a coincidence. I'm surprised.
Do you want to hire this handsome man too?
What's with you?
Just kidding.
Get out of here, Papageno.
Sorry about that. He's a bit weird.
Never mind. Have a seat.
Thank you.
About two years
after I became Beethoven's secretary,
we began preparing for the premiere
of Symphony No. 9.
I'm going to the theater for a meeting.
My heart was filled
with a sense of mission.
He was already past his prime,
fading from the spotlight.
This masterpiece
could reignite his career.
To ensure the premiere of the Ninth
was a success,
I worked hard preparing for the concert.
I really don't vibe with him.
Papageno?
Yeah.
How do I put it
He doesn't get jokes.
He's too strict.
And he can't read the room.
Indeed, he's becoming insufferable.
Hey, do you remember the man
who used to be with us
Ries! He was good
at handling these things.
He was good indeed.
Right?
Compared to him, this guy has no charm.
What are you going to do?
Conducting?
THEATER DIRECTOR
DUPORIf Beethoven himself conducts,
it will definitely attract
the public's attention.
Well, with his current hearing condition,
conducting would be quite difficult.
It'll be fine.
People come to see him
knowing about his condition.
If Umlauf does the conducting from behind,
it shouldn't be a problem.
Even though everyone knows
about his hearing condition,
showing an awkward conducting on stage
would be a huge damage to his reputation.
I held off on answering for the moment,
and relayed the matter to him.
Conduct? Me?
It would be a strain on your ears.
I don't recommend
Wait
This may actually be an opportunity.
To the public,
the current Beethoven is a living fossil.
If they hear that such a fossil
will appear on stage,
everyone will come to see the spectacle.
And then they will shed tears of emotion
at the sight of this pitiful fossil
running wild with passion.
A grand chorus of "Bravo!"
I'm no longer someone
who merely admires Beethoven.
I command the admiration directed at him.
He grows an unkempt beard
and barely bathes,
yet he's very particular
about the freshness of his food,
and lashes out at the housekeeper
when displeased.
Putting this old man on stage as a tragic
maestro to capture people's hearts,
that is indeed my mission.
He doesn't seem entirely opposed
to the idea either.
He hasn't completely given up the dream
of overcoming his hearing impairment
and returning to the stage.
I might as well
make use of that motivation.
Let's do it.
MAY 7, 1824
The day of the performance had arrived.
Theater am Krntnertor was one
of the most famous halls in Vienna.
Thanks in part to the posters,
all 2,400 seats were sold out.
Members of the audience
crowded the theater entrance.
Do people really want to see me conduct?
They're probably just here
to watch me fail.
Every single one of them
is making fun of me.
I beg to differ.
This symphony is an exceptional work
that stands above the rest,
the grandest
and most challenging of them all.
And at last
It was showtime.
Once he went on stage,
and notwithstanding
his earlier state of anxiety,
his steps showed no hesitation.
To be honest,
in terms of the performance itself,
he was little more
than a useless ornament.
But for now, he had to fulfill that role.
This symphony would,
without a doubt, save humanity.
To be honest, in terms of revenue,
it couldn't really be called a success.
But in terms of making this genius' name
resound in the music world once again,
the premiere of the Ninth
was a resounding success.
And
Witnessing this historical moment
filled me with pride.
Several days later,
a dinner party was held.
The guests were
Concertmaster Schuppanzigh,
conductor Umlauf,
his nephew Karl, his brother Johann,
and myself, the administrator.
Everyone thought the maestro
would thank us for our contributions.
To be honest, without Schindler,
this wouldn't have happened at all.
No, it was all thanks
to everyone's contributions.
Say
Doesn't the atmosphere feel heavy?
Indeed.
He's clearly in a bad mood. What's wrong?
He's probably tired
after achieving such a great feat.
Papageno!
Yes.
This is it. He's going to call our names
and express his gratitude...
You
Stole the concert earnings, didn't you?
What?
I couldn't believe my ears.
I've been suspicious of you for a while,
but you finally did it.
No What?
Admit it!
Otherwise, there's no way
our profits would be this poor.
What do you have to say?
Indeed, the profits
were not great this time.
But that's because ticket prices in Vienna
are cheaper than in Paris or London.
I've explained it to him many times.
It's useless to cover for him.
He's a thief.
Say something!
You're always running your mouth.
Don't you have anything
to say in your defense?
Get out, thief!
Don't you ever come back!
Adieu, adieu.
Goodbye.
I didn't do it.
This was probably Johann's doing.
I never got along with him.
But now that it has come to this,
I can't go back there anymore.
Farewell,
my beloved maestro.
Several months had passed
since I left him.
Since then,
I had cut off all contact with him.
I was able to do it because
I was finally doing well with my own work.
Thanks to the connections I made
during the preparations
for the premiere of the Ninth,
I became the concertmaster
at Theater in der Josefstadt,
and was also appointed as third conductor
at Theater am Krntnertor.
However, working in the music industry,
I couldn't avoid hearing rumors about him.
I hear Beethoven isn't writing symphonies
or piano pieces anymore.
Really?
There are no pianists
willing to play his works either.
They say he only writes
string quartets now.
Then I guess Mr. Schuppanzigh's troupe
will play them.
Yeah, probably.
So Mr. Schuppanzigh reconciled with him.
So, in the end,
I'm the only one he cut ties with.
It doesn't matter anymore.
By the way, remember Holz,
Mr. Schuppanzigh's student?
Oh, that nice guy.
Yeah. I heard he's now
Beethoven's secretary.
Holz
The name's familiar.
This is my student, Holz.
Nice to meet you.
That guy!
The maestro seemed to like him
ever since they first met.
So he really took him in.
But how is he doing?
Being Beethoven's secretary must be hard.
That young punk must be doing a poor job,
of course.
Actually, I hear he's doing great.
What?
Beethoven even calls him
"the most excellent wood of Christ,"
and praises him highly.
I don't really get the metaphor,
but he must really like him.
So I'm Papageno and he's the cross?
Whatever.
It's got nothing to do with me anymore.
AUGUST, 1826
However, two years
after parting ways with Beethoven,
I heard some shocking news.
Beethoven's nephew, Karl,
had attempted to commit suicide
with a p*stol.
As a child, Beethoven's nephew, Karl,
had been taken by Beethoven
from his mother after a long legal battle.
Go here and become a scholar.
That's all.
- No, I...
- What did you say?
Yes, sir.
Beethoven kept tabs
on Karl's life very closely.
He restricted contact with his mother
as well as with his friends.
Karl was sick and tired of his uncle's
pathological, controlling behavior.
I had often given counsel to him.
His uncle's strict surveillance
must have continued after I left.
It is possible
that it had even gotten worse.
Forgetting that I was now an outsider,
I rushed to his place.
What happened?
I began looking into what had happened
during the two years I was absent.
The conversation books kept a vivid record
of the deteriorating relationship
among Beethoven, Karl, and Holz.
It appeared Holz had tried to improve
the relationship between the two.
You've been coming here
less frequently these days.
After I left home, it became clear to me
But for a man raised in comfort,
in a happy middle-class family in Vienna,
to try to untangle the dark knot
of the Beethoven family
might have been a foolhardy endeavor.
Karl, who was boarding
near the business school,
came home less and less frequently,
and shut himself off even to Holz.
By the time they realized the gravity
of the situation, it was too late.
I have nothing more to say.
Fortunately, Karl survived.
I know now
I was summoned once again
to help him overcome the shock
of being rejected by his beloved nephew,
as Beethoven's devoted secretary,
who admired and faithfully served him.
Around the time I began
to grow close to Beethoven again,
Karl, having recovered from his injuries,
decided, against Beethoven's wishes,
to fulfill his long-held dream
of enlisting in the army.
Beethoven talked to Holz
and asked him to become Karl's guardian.
But Holz declined outright,
citing as the reason his upcoming marriage
with a banker's daughter.
What a heartless man!
No matter.
I'll take care of everything now.
DECEMBER, 1826
In December of that year,
Beethoven fell ill.
He seemed to have caught pneumonia
from riding an open carriage in the cold.
How's Uncle?
He seems to have fluid in his abdomen
and is undergoing surgery to drain it.
Is it that serious?
It's more serious than we thought.
I see.
I'm feeling better today.
The surgery wasn't very successful.
However, thanks to subsequent treatments,
his condition improved slightly.
I want some wine.
It was around this time that his attitude
toward me changed completely.
His former cold demeanor disappeared,
and he began to rely on me openly,
as someone indispensable to him.
And sometimes
This fellow is excellent.
He's gone through so much trouble
for my sake.
he even showed signs of gratitude.
BEETHOVEN'S FRIEND
BREUNING
You must get better and regain strength.
Yeah.
I don't want to be a problem
for you and him.
I'll try to get better quickly.
Maybe he was already aware
that his end was near,
and he was trying to show me love
before departing this world.
That was quite an interesting story.
Not just b*ttlefield heroes,
but also those who chose
politically difficult paths,
including those who carried them out.
It could rightfully be called
a heroic tale.
I ought to read it again carefully later.
You must be interested too.
Yes.
This period of nearly four months
of nursing and care
was the most peaceful time
in my career as his secretary.
In early January,
Karl came to visit Beethoven.
As an officer in training,
he was going to depart
for Iglau in Bohemia,
and he came to give him the news.
I see.
Well, then
Take care of yourself.
I will.
And so
The feuding uncle and nephew
parted ways on remarkably peaceful terms.
MARCH, 1827
By mid-March,
the talk of his will came up.
A draft containing his wish of leaving
all his assets to his nephew Karl
was prepared by his friend Breuning,
and signed by him.
And here too.
Here too? What's this?
Sign it, then.
What the heck? You sign it!
It's void if I sign it.
Here.
wig
Beethoven.
There.
MARCH 26, 1827
Then, on March 26, 1827,
Beethoven left this world.
Twenty thousand mourners came
to bid farewell to the great hero,
and the funeral procession stretched
three kilometers from east to west.
COURT KAPELLMEISTER
HUMMEL
This was no longer
just a musician's funeral.
His death was an event akin to
a natural disaster or a revolution.
JUNE, 1827
Three months after Beethoven's funeral
Stephan.
Breuning died suddenly,
as if he were following him.
Stephan!
He had been
One of my few allies.
In the midst of all this,
I heard an outrageous rumor.
Holz?
Yes.
Apparently, Beethoven gave him
permission to write it before his death.
That Holz
Was planning to publish the biography
of Ludwig van Beethoven.
Why him?
I had a bad feeling.
If he had been sympathizing
with Karl all along
The forceful separation
of mother and child,
the excessive interference,
the suicide attempt,
and other events
What if he was planning
to reveal all that to the world?
Maestro,
why did you entrust your legacy
to a little devil like him?
I'm the only one
Who can protect Beethoven.
I decided to write
my own biography of Beethoven.
However, most of the materials
related to Beethoven
would likely go
to Holz's biography project team.
That would make it difficult
to even start a new team.
Wait
There is
A huge amount of untouched material.
And I'm probably the only person
who's aware of this fact.
Once accused of being a thief
and deeply hurt by it,
I had finally become a real one.
No, that's not true.
I was doing it to protect the great hero.
And ultimately,
for the sake of the public.
JULY, 1827
Four months after Beethoven's death
Thank you.
I wrote a letter to his old friend,
Franz Gerhard Wegeler,
as someone who was close to Beethoven.
"On his deathbed, he said,
'The only people who have lived with me
and supported me for many years
were Breuning and Schindler.'"
BEETHOVEN'S CHILDHOOD FRIEND
WEGELER
"'Another one was Wegeler,
a beloved friend
who gave me so much
when I was a young man.'"
Did he really say that about me?
We should thank this Mr. Schindler.
WEGELER'S WIFE
ELEONORE
"Beethoven's dying wish
was that his biography
should be written jointly
"by Wegeler, Breuning, and Schindler."
Could that be true?
Are you going to?
If he said so, I suppose I have to.
What should I do?
First, I'll ask my local friends
to help me collect material.
Oh, right. Let's ask Ries too.
Mr. Ries, yes.
There's no time to lose.
The Ries he referred to
was Beethoven's student, Ferdinand Ries.
BEETHOVEN'S BELOVED STUDENRIES
He achieved great success
as a pianist, composer, and conductor,
and was now working
on opera productions in Frankfurt.
RIES' WIFE
HARRIEHey, who's this Schindler again?
Well, I've never heard of him.
Oh, I remember.
He's the guy
the maestro used to bad-mouth.
Really?
Yeah. He was his former secretary.
So, after his death, Beethoven is still
controlling him through his will.
Are you going to participate
in the biography?
Well, since the request
comes from Wegeler,
I'll do it.
How did it go with Ries?
He said he'll do it.
That's great.
Yeah. Look, he even sent
all this material.
Amazing. He wastes no time.
Now that we've got all this,
I'll send it to Mr. Schindler.
However,
for the time being,
I set aside the documents they sent me
to publish three issues
of a music journal,
and take up the position
of music director in Mnster.
Well, Beethoven and I used to talk
about music every day.
As Beethoven's friend, student,
and secretary,
I shared anecdotes about him,
and his performance philosophy,
with the orchestra members.
I asked him, "What does
the opening of the Fifth represent?"
And he answered,
"It's the sound of fate
knocking at the door."
So
"Da-da-da-dum," right?
The second movement of Symphony No. 8
is based on a canon honoring Mlzel,
the inventor of the metronome.
I lived with him for a long time,
but
Every day,
I was reminded
of his greatness.
There were slight deviations
from the facts,
but they were necessary
to emphasize his charisma.
By the way, my profile
in the general music journal
stated that I'd lived with Beethoven
for ten years.
In reality, it was only about two years,
but it was necessary to increase
my credibility as his messenger.
All of these were necessary evils
to protect Beethoven.
Still no word from Mr. Schindler?
None at all.
Could there have been
some kind of trouble?
No way.
He's currently working
as a music director in Mnster.
- Is that so?
- Yeah.
Meanwhile, this book came out.
"Beethoven's Studies in Thorough-Bass,
Counterpoint
And The Art of Scientific Composition"?
It was written by Seyfried,
someone I knew back in the day.
He completely beat us to it.
Right.
Several weeks later,
Wegeler summoned me angrily.
So I visited him in Koblenz.
I'm sorry.
It's not that I have forgotten about it.
- I've been very busy.
- I don't need excuses.
More importantly, let's include Ries
as a member of the writing team.
Ries?
Yes, Ries. Ries!
The man who provided the material,
Beethoven's student, Ries.
You don't remember?
Of course I remember.
If we divide the biography
into three periods,
it'd still be too much for you
to handle the second and third periods.
Let's have Ries write the second period.
He was Beethoven's student then.
Otherwise, you'll never get on with it.
No, that's not true, but...
Fine, I'll go see him.
- Go right away.
- Okay.
- Now, understand?
- Okay.
- Don't stop at home!
- Okay!
After being pushed by Wegeler,
I headed straight to Ries' residence
in Frankfurt.
I know, it's about the biography, right?
But I'm in no hurry.
Unlike Wegeler,
Ries welcomed me with a smile.
Despite that, talking to him
made my heart uneasy.
What's this feeling?
Holz.
It was the same feeling I had
when facing Holz.
But you know, speaking of the maestro,
it was quite shocking
when I first met him.
Besides, his anecdotes were all
about surprisingly shocking episodes.
Plus, even though I had just come
from Bonn with nothing,
he gladly took me on as a student.
- Is that so?
- Yes.
And, he'd ask me all the time,
"Are you in need of money?"
And though I replied, "No, I'm fine,"
he'd already taken out his wallet.
You see, he treated me like a son.
- Thank you.
- True.
He completely
monopolized the conversation.
While he was treated like a son,
I was treated like a thief.
But he was strict when it came to music.
More anecdotes?
Well, he was strict,
but there was love behind it.
He'd stay up late at night
for my lessons every time.
Late at night?
Yeah, that's right. And on top of that,
whether it was my first job
or even my debut concert,
he arranged everything for me.
I can't thank him enough.
Right, of course.
Also, we often went for walks together.
Quite the task. He wandered everywhere.
Always on the move.
We did that too. He liked taking walks.
Unlike me, this man
was truly, truly loved by Beethoven.
When I got back,
he must have been really happy.
His face was covered in soap bubbles,
and he hugged me! I was like, "Whoa!"
Like, "What are you, a dog? Don't pee
on yourself from the excitement!"
Endless anecdotes. I'm getting dizzy.
So amazing.
He may have been loved,
but he didn't understand
Beethoven's true essence.
After all, he only saw
Beethoven's superficial side.
I had to believe that
in order to keep my composure.
I immediately wrote
a letter to Wegeler saying
"Negotiations with Ries have broken off."
I decided to change my strategy
for writing the biography.
That's a complete lie!
Well, there was probably
some jealousy too.
By the way,
even though he proposed it himself,
why didn't Schindler
write the book sooner?
Perhaps he was waiting.
For what?
For all the others to die.
What do you mean?
If he had begun writing it
while the others were still alive,
they might have wanted to be witnesses
or to claim their rights.
That's problematic, right?
I guess so.
But once those people died,
he'd be able to write his lies
with freedom.
That's scary.
What happened next was even scarier.
What happened?
His wishes actually started to come true.
JANUARY, 1838
What's wrong?
RIES PASSES AWAY
I was shocked.
I had just met him the other day.
Though I wasn't fond of him,
he wasn't a bad person.
A few months later, I came across a book.
"Beethoven Remembered:
The Biographical Notes
of Franz Wegeler And Ferdinand Ries."
Those b*stards.
When did they do this? And without me?
"Beethoven gave me the manuscript
of his beautiful C minor piano concerto,
Opus 37."
It was for my debut performance
as Beethoven's student.
I was the only one to debut
in that manner
during Beethoven's lifetime.
Besides myself, Archduke Rudolf
was also recognized as his student.
There was no mention of my name anywhere.
As if to say that Schindler had
no involvement in Beethoven's life at all.
As I turned the pages,
I felt an intense anger.
However, I wasn't angry
because I had been left out,
but because of the flaws in the book
that arose as a result of it.
Most of the accounts were problematic.
They were too open about everything.
Delicious.
Is it? I'm glad.
One evening, I went to Baden
for my lessons.
I found Beethoven there,
sitting on the sofa with a young woman.
Realizing I had come at a bad time,
I tried to leave,
but he stopped me.
Play for a while.
He said to me.
After I had played for quite a while,
he called out
Ries, play something more romantic.
Something more melancholic.
Something more passionate.
And so on. So I connected
various parts of his works
with short modulating phrases.
He happily exclaimed
They're all my pieces!
You really love me, don't you?
This is not good at all!
This is too frivolous.
Revealing that he was engaged
in one-night-stands
while writing Moonlight Sonata
and Eroica Symphony
will destroy his heroic image.
This account is quite bad too.
Beethoven would sometimes
exhibit terrible outbursts.
One day, at a restaurant,
the waiter brought the wrong dish.
Beethoven tried to say a few words,
but as soon as the waiter
responded brusquely,
he threw the dish, which was offal
with plenty of gravy, at the waiter.
It burns!
What an idiot!
If you write about episodes like this,
people will think Beethoven
was bad-tempered and violent.
Well, he was actually
bad-tempered and violent
Does it still hurt?
Ries didn't know the real reason
behind the g*nsh*t wound on Karl's head.
However, the future readers
may learn the truth.
And when they do,
all these episodes of violence
may be seen as a foreshadowing
of Karl's suicide attempt.
Beethoven's violent character and behavior
were partly true,
but it wasn't his essence.
Beethoven is our hero.
A musician who descends
from the great military leaders
and politicians
of ancient Greece's heroic tales.
That's who Ludwig van Beethoven is.
A musician who lived as a hero.
His less-than-fortunate upbringing.
The suffering from his hearing loss.
Those are the elements we need.
We don't need vulgar stories
about his love life,
let alone allegations
of domestic violence.
In 1840,
I finally published
the first edition of Life of Beethoven.
ANTON SCHINDLER
LIFE OF BEETHOVEN (FIRST EDITION)
Thirteen years after Beethoven's death,
from a total of three chapters
about his life,
to one about music,
and another about his daily life,
I wrote everything myself.
This is truly
the biography of Beethoven
that should be passed down to posterity.
Life of Beethoven?
Schindler?
When did he
What is this? It's all nonsense!
And the way it portrays me is terrible!
I'm barely mentioned in it!
The way Karl's described is awful too.
He's casually attributing
his suicide attempt to exam pressure.
He knows what went down between the two.
There's even evidence.
By the way, where are
those conversation books being kept again?
With them,
I could easily prove who's right.
The cursed reality has now vanished.
Only the finishing touches remain.
While both may carry lies,
there's a difference in severity
between embellishing some stories
and altering source materials.
I'm now entering the realm of crime.
First, manipulating the timing
of my relationship with Beethoven.
My time as his secretary was too short.
I want to add a few more years.
For starters,
was he even assisting Beethoven
this early on?
1816
That's two or three years before
he started using those conversation books.
Adding false lines
requires extraordinary imaginative power.
However, being able to converse
with my ideal Beethoven through the books
began to fill me with exaltation.
I want to speak more with this Beethoven.
Maestro.
Could Ries truly be called
your faithful servant?
Why do you ask?
Because he's busy composing,
he makes no effort to perform your works.
He has long forgotten the pieces
he once learned from you.
He forgot my works?
Maestro.
I swear to God,
I will not become like Ries.
Your teachings will not be replaced
by anything in this world.
Schindler.
You alone are my true friend.
My mission
Is to convey your teachings to the public.
Thank you,
my friend.
Gross!
It's all lies!
The crime of creating beautiful memories
brought me an intoxicating sweetness.
I keep adding lines each time I find
blank spaces in the conversation books.
With each addition,
Beethoven transcends reality
and gains a more divine radiance.
Reality doesn't matter.
The ideal is the truth.
A friend of Beethoven's?
And his former secretary.
This is a book I wrote.
Please have a look if you'd like.
Thank you.
Excuse me.
I went to Paris carrying business cards
that read "Friend of Beethoven,"
and devoted myself to spreading
Beethoven's true image.
Excuse me.
You're Mr. Chopin, right?
Yes.
Nice to meet you.
I am Schindler,
Beethoven's former secretary.
Mr. Schindler.
I'm very pleased to meet you.
Please, if you'd like,
read this work I've written.
Thank you.
Well, then.
Oh my! Are you Mr. Wagner?
Yes.
And that's Mr. Heine?
Yes.
Hello, my name is Schindler.
I'm Beethoven's former secretary.
Please.
This book I wrote
is titled Life of Beethoven.
I'd be happy if you'd read it.
Excuse me.
Thank you very much.
Who is he?
I don't know.
He said he was Beethoven's
former secretary, but it sounds fishy.
Yes, it does sound fishy.
Very fishy.
He wrote "Friend of Beethoven"
on his business card.
Isn't that weird?
Very weird.
He's definitely not his friend.
Never heard of him.
Publishing a book without permission
He's up to no good.
Maybe I'll take this to the newspaper
as some funny gossip.
That's a good idea!
By the way, releasing Life of Beethoven
in English had always been on my mind,
and I finally published
the English edition.
As a result, my work gained
worldwide recognition.
And as a final push,
I visited the Prussian Royal Library
as I wanted to donate the conversation
books to a public institution.
I wanted the nation to recognize
the conversation books
as Beethoven's most important legacy.
The conversation books?
I also have many other
written materials in my possession.
I'd appreciate it
if you could purchase them.
PRUSSIAN ROYAL LIBRARY
MUSIC DEPARTMENT HEAD: DEHN
Well, I'll need
A little time to think about it.
Schindler's book seems to be selling
better than expected.
To stop the spread of those lies,
I needed to revive
the stalled biography project.
I appointed Gassner,
a musician and author, as the new writer.
In order to gather still unknown,
original information,
I sought support from people
such as Johann, Karl, and Czerny.
His lies have already been exposed
among those involved.
Have you read that book,
Life of Beethoven?
I haven't.
Furthermore, I secretly visited
concert venues and taverns,
and snuck into musicians' conversations
to spread bad rumors about him.
No, really, this Schindler guy
is a total piece of garbage.
I knew it.
BERLIOZ - MEYERBEER
I had a feeling
something was off about him.
Right?
Look at this.
This is a letter
Beethoven wrote to his nephew.
Schindler's name is mentioned here.
What?
He's getting completely trashed.
Right?
How can a guy whom Beethoven hated so much
write a biography as his confidant?
Don't you think that's messed up?
So messed up.
Right? Besides, it's full of lies.
I thought so.
It goes beyond exaggeration
or embellishment.
He wrote things that never happened.
In the newspaper dated September 16,
an article appeared
that thoroughly ridiculed me
as a "self-proclaimed
friend of Beethoven."
It was written by Holz.
This triggered a debate in the newspaper
between Holz and me.
This guy keeps telling lies!
Besides Holz, even Wagner and Heine
mocked me.
Unlike Holz, who had many allies,
I was all alone.
The debate continued in his favor.
However
In 1846,
the Prussian Royal Library
sent me an official notice
approving the purchase of the conversation
books and other materials.
Thanks to the debate in the newspaper,
public interest
in the conversation books grew,
which motivated the library's desire
to purchase them.
In any case,
the state had effectively recognized
the legitimacy
of the conversation books and myself.
However, it wasn't enough
to turn the tide,
and the difficult battle continued.
Before I knew it,
several years had passed.
Then, one day
Yes?
Nice to meet you.
I'm a librarian from America.
My name is Alexander Wheelock Thayer.
I've been doing some research
on Beethoven,
and I really wanted to speak with you,
Mr. Schindler.
With me?
Is he Holz's spy?
I really enjoyed the book you wrote.
Is that so? Thank you.
He doesn't seem to be an enemy.
Please come in.
Thank you.
After all, Italian opera is all the rage
in society right now
This young man
was a genuine fan of Beethoven,
and an avid reader of my book.
He listened with great interest
to my stories about Beethoven.
For some time now,
I had been dealing with people
who were determined to bring me down,
so the time I spent with him
was very enjoyable.
I enjoyed all the wonderful stories.
Thank you very much.
Please come back anytime
if you have questions.
Goodbye.
For the sake of people like him,
I can't afford to lose this battle.
After that, my lonely battle
against Holz and others continued.
Then, in 1857
CZERNY PASSES AWAY
Mr. Czerny has passed away.
Really?
At the age of 66.
Czerny, one of Beethoven's students,
and Holz's ally,
had left this world.
And then, the following year
Karl and Holz died in succession.
Heaven had taken my side
in my long, lonely battle.
Now, all the troublemakers were dead.
So they are all dead?
Yes.
It's unfortunate,
but it must be divine punishment.
Divine punishment?
They were trying to tarnish
your wonderful music
and achievements
for their own selfish benefit.
Were they
Please don't worry.
I will protect your legacy
responsibly until the end.
Thank you, my friend.
It's okay.
This is my mission.
The time was ripe.
I immediately began writing
the third edition of Life of Beethoven.
No one will interfere now.
What I write will be passed on
to the public as the truth,
and will be etched
into the history of music.
Then, in 1860
The third edition of Life of Beethoven
was successfully published.
ANTON SCHINDLER
LIFE OF BEETHOVEN (THIRD EDITION)
There were two major changes
from the first edition.
First, I incorporated new information
obtained from numerous biographies,
papers, and newspaper articles
written over the past 20 years.
Second, I included the struggle
against my rivals for the past 20 years.
In particular, I devoted
an entire appendix to criticizing Holz,
writing that the relationship
between Beethoven and Karl
had deteriorated because of him.
Now that those who would doubt me
were gone,
there was no longer
any danger of exposure.
There weren't any lies to begin with.
I merely supplemented the facts.
What's written here is indeed the truth.
I
Won.
Yes?
It's been a long time.
I'm a music journalist,
Alexander Wheelock Thayer.
Mr. Thayer.
I paid you a visit once six years ago,
and we talked about many things.
Oh, the fan of Beethoven.
I remember.
He was a genuine reader of my book.
In other words, an ally.
Please, come in.
Thank you.
By the way, the other day
Please come in.
Have a seat.
I published the third edition
of Life of Beethoven.
Of course, I read it.
You did?
- It was quite thick, wasn't it?
- I'd say so.
Perfect timing.
By discussing Beethoven with him,
I shall savor this victory.
Going back 15 years
As an apprentice librarian
and avid music fan,
I picked up that book with amazement.
Life of Beethoven.
The author was Anton Felix Schindler.
I never thought it possible
I could read a biography of Beethoven
in my native language.
Everything in it recounted stories
I'd never heard of before.
I was absorbed in the book.
You know Beethoven's
Symphony No. 5, right?
That "da-da-da-dum" piece?
Yeah. That "da-da-da-dum" is said to be
the sound of fate knocking at the door.
- Is that so?
- Another thing.
When asked about the interpretation
of his Piano Sonata No. 17,
do you know what he said?
What he said?
I don't know. What?
He said, "Read Shakespeare's The Tempest."
- That's kind of cool.
- He was amazing.
By the way, when grinding coffee,
he always counted exactly 60 beans.
How meticulous.
Such peculiarity
is so typical of a genius.
I was excited by these unknown accounts
about this genius composer.
This Schindler, the author,
was someone who had served
as Beethoven's secretary.
However, I did have some complaints
about the biography.
As an English text, the flow
of the sentences was rather awkward.
Compared to masterpieces
such as Edward Holmes' The Life of Mozart,
it falls somewhat short.
Probably because
it was translated by someone
without an English-speaking background.
If I could release into the world a more
polished version based on this book,
a revised Life of Beethoven
for the Americans
With this idea in mind,
I immediately wrote letters to England
ordering several reference books
related to Beethoven.
The following year, those books arrived.
Among them was a book
often cited by Schindler in his book,
Wegeler and Ries' co-authored work
Beethoven Remembered:
The Biographical Notes.
However, this book didn't have
an English version,
so I read through it
with the help of a dictionary.
As I did so, I noticed something strange.
There were subtle discrepancies
between this book and Schindler's.
Hints of discord between the two parties
over the writing of the biography
were also scattered throughout.
How had things become so tense
between them?
Both had been like
Beethoven's right-hand men.
I don't know which one is right
and which one is wrong.
But I know one of them is lying.
How are these contradictions
being received in Europe?
These growing doubts
began to shake the foundations of my life.
Three years later, in 1849,
I made a decision.
I would uncover the truth,
become an author myself,
and write a brand-new
biography of Beethoven,
different from both Ries' and Schindler's.
I immediately headed to Europe
And stepped into the square in Bonn.
This is the city
where Beethoven was born and raised.
I enrolled at a language school
to polish my poor German.
I visited Berlin, Vienna, and London,
and gradually built up
my research foundation.
OCTOBER, 1854
Five years later,
I went to meet Schindler,
the author of Life of Beethoven.
Nice to meet you.
I'm a librarian from America.
My name is Alexander Wheelock Thayer.
Despite my halting German,
he welcomed me warmly.
Thank you.
He was reluctant to perform in Vienna
His stories were interesting.
He skillfully narrated numerous episodes
about Beethoven in a story-like style.
Listening to his stories
convinced me.
He's lying.
After meeting with Schindler,
I headed straight to Berlin.
The music department
at the Prussian Royal Library.
It houses 50,000 books
related to Handel, Haydn, Bach,
Mozart, Cherubini, and Beethoven.
Not just books,
but also hand-written scores, letters,
and even the ear trumpet
that Beethoven used during his lifetime.
To be honest, these items
would be appealing to any fan,
but I didn't come here to see them.
The conversation books.
I was overwhelmed.
A flood of scribbled writing.
Everyone's handwriting was rough,
and mostly in pencil and unclear.
Clearly, they were not considerate
of those who'd read them later on.
They were more intense and vivid
than I had imagined.
The truth must be hidden here.
I was certain of it.
From that day on,
I became a regular at the library.
In order to reach the truth,
I had no choice but to read through
all of these lengthy texts.
It was a daunting task.
These conversation books had no coherence.
Different people appeared,
time jumped around,
and topics changed without warning.
Reading through them
didn't help me understand.
Names, song titles, and incidents
appeared abruptly.
While cross-referencing with newspapers
and magazines from the same period,
I continued this seemingly endless task.
As I did so, excessive fatigue
took its toll
and my health rapidly deteriorated
until I finally collapsed
with a high fever.
In the end, halfway through my mission,
I was forced to return to America
for medical treatment.
Maybe it was too big of a task for me
after all.
While recovering in my hometown,
I considered giving up.
Then, a book caught my eye.
Schindler's Life of Beethoven,
third edition.
Why now?
No
Considering that Czerny and Holz
had both died in succession
over the past few years, it made sense.
"No one's left to interfere," is that it?
He plans to get away with this.
I won't let that happen.
I will expose the truth at all costs.
I went to see Schindler again.
It's been a long time.
I'm a music journalist,
Alexander Wheelock Thayer.
I used to have more stuff,
but I've given most of it to the library.
These are all the relics I have left.
This is the cane made of rattan,
and a monocle with a velvet string.
Though it's quite dirty now.
- Mr. Schindler.
- Yes?
Actually, I have seen the relics
you used to have in Berlin.
Is that so?
- They have quite a collection, right?
- Yes.
- Did you see the ear trumpet?
- I did.
The conversation books too.
I see.
They were just scribbles.
They must have been hard to read.
Yes, indeed.
Also, there were significant variations
in the number of books by year.
Variations?
Those conversation books
were apparently used from 1818 until 1827.
For example,
while there are over 30 books from 1823,
there isn't a single one from 1821.
What happened to the missing
conversation books?
Those books
I disposed of them.
What?
They took up quite a lot of space.
Took up a lot of space?
After Beethoven passed away,
I moved a lot.
It was just too much trouble
carrying all of them around,
so I disposed of them little by little.
Wait a minute.
How many were there originally?
About 400, I'd say.
Four hundred?
So, you disposed of over 250 books?
I suppose so.
You suppose so?
Of course, I know I did something wrong.
But back then, no one but me recognized
the importance of those books.
So, I disposed of the ones
that seemed less valuable.
And this is a draft score
of Fidelio during revision.
I plan to give this draft
to Breuning's son after I die.
We've been close friends for a long time.
Mr. Schindler.
Yes?
We're not done yet.
Or rather, this is the main issue.
What is?
Fifteen years ago,
I pored over this book you wrote.
Thank you.
However,
I found several discrepancies
between your book and others' accounts.
So I went to the Prussian Royal Library
to confirm the truth
through those conversation books.
And?
You
Altered the books, didn't you?
Altered?
Yes.
How could I possibly do such a thing?
If that were true,
it would be a huge scandal.
That's what I'm saying.
It is a huge scandal.
What evidence do you have
to make such accusations?
Believing that the truth was hidden
in those conversation books,
I spent a lot of time in the library,
copied everything down,
and spent six years analyzing them.
There were additions made afterwards
throughout every book.
Even if that were true,
it doesn't mean I added them.
No.
It was you.
How can you be so sure?
All the parts that appear
to have been added
correspond to the discrepancies.
In other words,
the parts that only appear in your books.
You added those parts, didn't you?
That story about fate
and the reason for Karl's suicide attempt
were all fabricated by you.
In the end, the hero who filled me
with excitement
was just someone you made up!
You gave a false image of Beethoven
to me and to people around the world!
Do you realize how serious
the crime you committed is?
Mr. Schindler!
If you have copied everything
from the conversation books,
you must have read that part too.
That part?
"I looked like I might stab
someone with a knife"
"if they spoke ill of Beethoven."
That was something
your friend said to you.
Looking back,
I've had that kind of determination
from the start.
But that doesn't justify such lies.
Those weren't lies.
They were clearly lies.
It was magic.
Magic?
The magic to turn
the ideal that people seek
into reality.
No one has thought harder than I have
about how Beethoven
should be presented to the world.
He must continue to be a hero.
And protecting his image of a hero
is my mission.
Even so,
you shouldn't have spread
such fabrications to the world.
If you believe so,
go ahead and stab me
With that pen.
As a researcher,
I will just publish the truth.
Will you?
Just remember one thing.
If you stab me to death,
it would be the same
as stabbing Beethoven,
the hero beloved by the people.
So, after that, did Thayer expose
Schindler's lies?
No, he didn't.
He didn't?
No.
The alterations weren't made public
until 1977,
more than 100 years
after Schindler's death,
when the German National Library's
conversation books research team did.
Why didn't Thayer make it public?
This is just me speculating,
but probably, after much consideration,
he decided that disclosing it
wouldn't benefit anyone.
Not benefit anyone?
In other words,
he realized that exposing the truth
might not necessarily be good
for the world.
But isn't that a failure as a researcher?
Well, as a researcher, yes.
So, in the end,
he chose not to disclose it
As a fan of Beethoven.
I see.
Whatever the case may be,
Schindler got away with it.
I suppose so.
I bet as he watched Thayer leave,
he thought,
"I won,"
and probably smiled to himself.
I won.
I protected him until the end.
The great German hero.
I fulfilled my mission.
But
That's just you speculating, right?
Well, it is, but
I wonder if
What?
If Thayer really found the alterations
in the first place.
What?
Maybe he chose not to disclose them.
Or simply, he just didn't find them.
Well
The records show that Schindler
did dispose of the conversation books.
But they don't mention anything
about the alterations, right?
Well, that's true.
So that means
The idea that he knew about them,
but chose not to disclose them
is your speculation too, right?
Well,
I suppose so.
But,
isn't that more dramatic and interesting?
I suppose so.
For example, even the phrase
"fate knocking at the door."
There's no proof Beethoven said it,
but there's also no proof he didn't.
That's true.
Then, at this point,
I'm fine with believing he said it.
It's more interesting that way.
It's probably the same now
as it was back then.
The truth gets distorted
and passed down by people like you.
You may be right.
Thank you for the coffee.
Are you leaving?
Yes, I should get going.
I see.
Get home safely.
Thank you. Goodbye.
Don't tell anyone, okay?
I won't.
It wouldn't benefit anyone.
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Faking Beethoven (2025)
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