All language subtitles for Beethoven-Tage aus einem Leben (1976,

DAYS lN A LlFE

Herr M�lzel, how do you explain
that Herr van Beethoven

has created a piece so fundamentally
different from his others?

Well l don't mean to be immodest,
but it's typical of me, M�lzel,

that l impelled Beethoven to do so.

Thanks to my initiative, if l may say so,

our revered master
is entering a new creative period.

A new Beethoven,

a completely new Beethoven,
who will not at all

resemble the old eccentric genius,

has been reborn

through me, M�lzel.

Did you get that?

LOVE OF ART

Greetings, Herr Schuppanzigh!
- The master's creating.

Don't you hear? You can't disturb him now!

Stop it, let me go.

l forbid you to enter.
Your soup is impeding a masterpiece.

l'm just doing my work.

l can't keep the soup warm
until it occurs to him to eat.

Stay here.

No, no, a thousand times no!

Mankind would be angry with you forever!

You know what?

Only a fool goes along with such a fool.

Silly fool!

Set the food over there.
Just put it anywhere!

Please, come in.

You'll just have to wait again, as usual.

Artists have their peculiarities,

the likes of us have to get used to it.
- Not me!

Here...

take this for the artist,

with best regards from Philomela Hintermoser.

The porter will fetch my trunk
and remaining wages for the week.

Don't you want to tell the master yourself?

l'll just feel sorry for him, poor fellow.

Such an awful man.

No, l'll just leave.

He can't hear anyway.

lsn't something missing?
-What should be missing?

What's it to be this time?

Doubtless something epochal.

One might think
it's a black African war song!

Please! A little more respect for the genius.

God created Adam in one day,
and what became of that?

You and l, Herr Schuppanzigh.

Are we nothing?

BROTHERLY LOVE

Baron, please, alms, Count.

God will reward you for all eternity.
- No German, no understand.

Jewish boors!

They should learn German
and not stand around in alleyways.

Johann! There you are.
Greetings. You're punctual.

l just arrived in Vienna.

Lots of beggars here,
almost worse than during Napoleon.

Don't let anyone hear that.
Metternich has ears everywhere.

Greetings.
-Your devoted servant, Sir.

Hello?

Where to, gentlemen?

Where does Ludwig live?
- On Rosengasse. How much will that be?

25 kreuzers.

25 kreuzers? Looks like you're
earning good money, dear Karl.

What, me? You called the cab.

That's just... Me?
-Yes.

You waved it over,
you were up on your toes.

To make sure your wave was successful.
l can't afford a cab.

l'm just a simple clerk,
not a rich apothecary.

Halt, halt!

Are we going or not?

Definitely not with me.
- Me neither!

Better walk, but barefoot,
new soles have gotten expensive!

Scoundrels! Phooey!

Giddyup!

Lavender. Three kreuzers a bunch!

Lavender. Buy some lavender!

Alms please, noble lady.

Stone desert. Unhealthful!
No nature far and wide!

Babylon. Sodom. lt gets on my nerves!

Shouldn't we encourage Ludwig to travel,
for the sake of his art?

Who knows what's right for him?

He doesn't accept advice.

You encourage him, do this and that.

l've tried to sort out
his chaotic business relations.

All for nothing.

lt's only in God's open air
that man finds order and inner peace.

Sometimes it seems
he doesn't want inner peace.

Do you think he's lost his Christian beliefs?

Has he sold his soul for his music?
Like Dr. Faust?

Johann, you can't be serious?

l'd like to believe
there was a simple explanation.

He'd be better off with us,
in the fresh air of Linz.

Even though pharmaceuticals
aren't profitable these days,

perhaps l should invite Ludwig.
- That won't work, Johann...

Ludwig must remain in Vienna.

His patrons, publishers and agents
are here, not in your backwater.

God's nature replaces all else.

Ludwig wastes his time
haggling with impresarios and publishers.

He could be composing instead.

Dear brother, he doesn't need fresh air,

but a system for calculating his finances,

if you understand what l mean.

You speak like a stranger, not our brother.

What do you know about life,
sitting in your office?

ln reality, he's just a poor, sick man.

lt's a mystery where his music comes from.

l can't comprehend it.

He's just like us, the same flesh and blood.

He's just worse off,
with his hearing and permanent colic.

And no wife, no child, nothing.

He's surrounded by chaos.

Though the market for pharmaceuticals
is currently unfavorable,

l wouldn't trade places with him.
-What's so different about him, Johann?

They say he's gifted.

But how so?

Why him? Why not me?

Or you?

lt is how it is.

To each his own.

Well...

Sometimes you just ask yourself
silly things.

ARTAPPREClATlON

He has agreed to give
a piano recital at my home.

l'd like to invite you to this event,
dear Razumovsky.

l've already begun preparing the small hall.

lf people were to one day say of us

that we provided the genius the opportunity

to spread his wings,
would that not be reward enough?

l don't expect posthumous fame.

But we will be forgotten, Razumovsky.

l've sometimes asked myself
during sleepless nights

whether l would trade my hereditary nobility
for nobility of the mind.

l have not arrived at an answer.

Or a decision.

As a result of this indecision,

l realized l don't have an artist in me.

lf l did, the alternative wouldn't
have put me in such a quandary.

Beethoven clearly conveys to us
the unity of all that is human.

His art

raises us above humble everyday life.

Eternal salvation
is to be found in such music.

On its wings, we lift ourselves
to the Highest and most Noble.

And we join together, spirits refined,

in the glorification of creation.

What identifies the trivial emphasis as godly

is, conversely, the universally human.

The universal!

ln a word,

Beethoven might lead mankind
toward greater freedom,

if we could only understand him.

What is it?

The Eisentratten landholder
asks to be received, Your Excellency.

He should come back tomorrow.

Now is not the time for banalities.

MlSTRUST

Wander on further through the sea

in the fullness of tribulations,

until you reach a divinely gifted man.

You can't complain
that you don't suffer enough. - That's true.

lt's obvious why it's his favorite book.
-What did you say?

That you cannot let go of old Homer.

ls there nothing new in literature?
- l'm waiting until the new is 2000 years old,

and if they're still reading it then,
l'll read it too.

''Dear life brings worry all the time,

a worry-breaker is the vine.''

Goethe.

How grand!

''Smoke-rooms bear no ugly scars.
Evil men have no cigars.''

''Where men drink, you may recline.
Evil people have no wine.''

Me too, me too, l know one!

Where men kiss...

Where men kiss, sweet trust there thrives.
Evil people have no wives.

Oh, sit down.

Wait, l'll do it.
- No, let me.

Shameless, no?

That doesn't matter.
-We'll take care of that.

Honored guests,

to celebrate the first half year

of my 14th, no 15th housekeeper...

You see, a substantial number.

...who will never leave me,
at least not too soon...

Where did she go?

l hope she didn't run off yet!

At any rate,

on this festive occasion,

l'd like to let you hear a new composition.

Very good!
-Yes...

Let you hear it.

Yes, l will.

Cheers!

Well, then. Cheers.
- Cheers.

lf one is ill, one cannot conduct.

So many complications with these artists.

Ridiculous!

l suffer from toothache
when the weather's bad.

HAPPlNESS REMEMBERED

Here,

l've brought this for you.

Now you'll never be without me.

l wish l never had to be without you.

To think that we must meet like conspirators!

That's how the world is, Ludwig.

lt grants us nothing.

Eventually our expectations
and despair must be rewarded!

ln waiting so long, l've suddenly got old.

l'm 33 already...

Widow of von Deym,

married to Stackelberg,

a mother of several children...

l would rather have the original.

Would you really?

The reason for our always being torn apart

has never been clear to me.

When you were my student,

l should have just instructed you
to stay with Ludwig.

Oh, Ludwig.

Oh, Ludwig.

lt's never too late to start over.

You're still young.

You alone are not subject
to the fate of mortals,

as Homer says.

Penelope had to marry the suitors.

Odysseus didn't come.

Our epic will have a different ending,
my dear...

more like Orpheus and Eurydice.

l too must return to my shadow world.

We always speak
through the mouths of the dead.

We continue to relive their fates,
as though it had to be.

lf someone had strength enough
to break through that,

he would find happiness.

Most certainly.

He'd find it.

And what is happiness?

A long life together?

Our life is drawing to an end,

and mine has passed me by,

almost unnoticed.

All at once.

Gone!

Over!

And l don't know where it's gone.

My life should have been with you.

Do you think l feel differently?

l'm only myself when l work,

time stands still.

But otherwise?

All is empty and bleak.

Who is this Beethoven

who composes music that is foreign to me?

A stranger.

l'm a completely different person,

especially when you're with me.

FAlTH lN SClENCE

Your political theories, Beethoven,
don't interest me in the least.

l'm first and foremost a doctor.

lllnesses aren't affected
by republics or monarchies.

Do you think an ear infection
cares what's going on in the head around it?

l know what you're going to say.

For you, man consists primarily

of the mind, or soul or heart,

or other non-scientific concepts.

But that's of no use to us.

Man is a machine,

albeit a quite complicated one.

And it's our duty to ensure
it functions smoothly.

Well then, how does it look?

What did you see in the machine,
Dr. Malfatti?

Rest, no excitement,
no over-exertions, dear composer.

Lead a steady life,
and follow the doctor's orders strictly.

Very strictly!

Then your deafness
will remain at its current level.

l didn't actually want to keep

my deafness at its current level.

l wanted to get rid of it!

Doctor Malfatti!

lf you don't mind.

You're no longer a child, Beethoven.

An improvement is unthinkable.

We can only slow down the affliction.

And when l say ''we,'' l mean ''we.''
You must do something too.

Without your absolute compliance,
you will become completely deaf.

Don't look at me with those
skeptical patient's eyes.

Always doubting the doctor's diagnosis.

Always speculating about medical errors.

You must change your life.
What would you do without ears?

A deaf composer.

The Viennese would just make
stupid jokes about that.

Didn't you hear what l said?
l've spoken loudly enough.

Should l stop working

in the middle of a composition?

Combat my musical meditations
with cold water cures?

l live in the music.

How should l change that,

without ceasing to exist?

l cure diseased organs.

Medical science is not responsible
for human problems.

That's why it doesn't help at all!

Viva Giovanni!

l've come already through many a land,

avec la marmotte.

And always found some food at hand,

avec la marmotte.

Avec si, avec la,

avec la marmotte.

Avec si, avec la,

avec la marmotte.

Go away, foolish critter!

That's not even fit for a dog!

Bloody hell!

PROCEDURAL MlSUNDERSTANDlNG

Open up!

Open up!
-What's going on?

lt seems the new tenant is a count,
''van Beethoven'' or something.

Maybe a fraud, or a murderer.

He's completely harmless.

Maybe he's sick, or crazy...

lf you're crazy, you scream.

Were you crazy yourself once?
Now keep quiet!

Open up! Open up!
Or we'll get the police!

What's going on?

lf you keep yelling like that,
something bad is going to happen!

Be careful.
We're not in any danger. Are you stupid?

l told you!

He always makes noise like this
when he's writing.

You see, he's peaceful.
He wouldn't hurt a fly.

But you never know
with such riffraff in the city.

And you visiting strangers in your nightshirt?

He could say ''Good evening!''

He didn't hear you, he has sick ears.

Anyway, when he scribbles on paper,
it's like he's asleep.

Now out! Let's go, come on.

Go home, nothing's happened.

Go on, get out!

Out now! lt's all over.

What is it? l don't have time now.

l must tell you something, Count.

l'm no count!

Do l look like a moron?
- No.

lt's just that...
-What is it?

...that l hereby
quit my position with Herr Beethoven.

Because...

everyone laughs at me.

On the streets they ask
if you and me sing duets together.

Foolish woman!

For my own part the blessed gods
make to prosper the work which l heed.

Therefrom have l eaten and drunk,

and given to reverend strangers.

But from my mistress l may hear naught
pleasant, word or deed,

for a plague has fallen upon the house.

The gods have smitten you with stupidity!

No! No!

l didn't mean to hurt you, Ludwig.

lt wasn't a selfish act.

l didn't want anything for me.
You would've gotten all the money.

And you call yourself my brother!
A fool, a cretin, a village idiot!

Going senile in office!
lt must be nice there among you clerks.

You just go peddle my music
like market women!

How do you say that
in plain language, dear brother?

l just wanted to supplement your funds.
- lt's called fraud! Fraud!

Getting involved in my problems
without qualifications,

or knowledge of the situation!

We live in a provincial swamp.
You haven't noticed, in your stupor.

Only out there in the world
do people understand my music.

Here in Vienna, there are
only three or four people, nobody else!

Only out there in the world
are people prepared

to distribute my compositions
in editions of the appropriate quality.

My dear brother,

if l relied on the Viennese publishers,
l could shoot myself now!

A band of cretins,
idiots who can't tell major from minor!

They want little ''songs,''

''dances,'' pieces for their wine gardens.

The provinces,

my dear brother,

the provinces,

they'll be the death of art.

My music, my works are published

in London, Paris and Leipzig,
and will continue to be!

Tell that to your Herr Steiner!

l wasn't thinking of myself,
truly, only of my son.

Of Karl.

What will become of the boy when l'm gone?

That won't be much longer.

What did you say?

Can you no longer speak?

Are you mute? A fish?

l'm putting Karl's fate in your hands, Ludwig.

l can't keep going much longer.

Don't play sick to gain my sympathy!

l'm the sick one, dammit!

Speculations on the state of my mind
are repulsive!

lt's not about money.

You've endangered my independence.

l can only work

if nobody,

nobody interferes.

l could have become a court composer,

playing something sweet here, something
pleasant there, at royal celebrations.

But not the music

that l must make.

l must be free for art,

so that art itself can be free.

Monsieur,

au revoir.

And don't let me see you again!

lf you ever want to sell art,
compose something yourself, you ass!

MEMORlES CONTlNUED

We should move far away.

Then...

You know, not really a village or a city,

something in between.

We could rent a pretty house.

You could sit quietly
and compose in the garden.

lt would rain on the piano.

Of course you'd get all the rooms
with a garden view.

The children could run around in the forest
and not disturb you.

l'd start painting again.

l haven't finished anything in a while.
- Oh yes, that'd be very nice.

l'd be like a real housefather.

And in the evening, when you're all in bed,
l'd lock windows and doors,

while spirits prowl round the house,

specters and bats.

And maybe l'd be better-shaven.

Every button would be in its place.

And not just every button.

lmagine, mornings we would both...

But there were...

There must be...

l could swear l still had
2 guilders and 10 kreuzers.

l could swear l still had
2 guilders and 10 kreuzers

after l paid the landlord.

Could l have been so wrong?

Are my eyes starting to go too?
- Don't bother.

lt's done, don't think about it anymore.

Think about the future, Ludwig,

about tomorrow,

about the beautiful days before us.

Do you think l was robbed?
Without noticing?

As l sat downstairs and waited for you?

When you're caught up in thoughts like me,
you're prey for every criminal.

Something happened once in Grinzing...

in a wine tavern. Yes, l'll tell you...

Just imagine:

l go into the ''Blighted Leaf'' wine garden...

lt's not important anymore, Ludwig.

All that matters is what we do from now on.

lt must all be carefully considered,

very carefully.

There's much to be considered.

We've considered it all long enough.

What's left?

Why delay further?

Our life passes by faster and faster.

l'll write it all down carefully for you.

ln a letter.

What do you want to write?

Why can't you just say it?

My ideas.

How l imagine the future.

Fine.

Write me soon.

l'm staying in the ''Three Emperors'' inn.

You can send your letter there.

Please tell me, who was that lady?

She looked so familiar. Wasn't that the...

Maybe the Countess Stackelberg.

That's what l thought. Thanks.

COMFORT lN NATURE

ARTAND THE DAWN OF TECHNOLOGY

This is it, my masterpiece!

The revolution in music!

M�lzel's Panharmonicon.

Even an Orpheus would pale
before this apparatus. - Listen, M�lzel.

You wanted to sell my music all over,
without paying me anything.

Progress is at home here, with M�lzel.

Do you want to hear it?

There will come a time
when orchestras won't perform at all.

Only music machines
will be in the concert halls.

M�lzel's music machines!

And they'll play your music, dear Master,

provided you write me something new.

l already have ideas in mind.

What do you have? Musical ideas?

How nice, Herr M�lzel.

Then you'd better get composing!
Do it all yourself!

Become independent from the artist!

The most important things to music
are your gears and levers!

Go ahead and mock me.

That will pass.

Beethoven, you're a free man,

no musician in bondage like the others,
a free businessman like me.

Beethoven!

We're challenging the barriers of our century.

lt's been repaired, Herr M�lzel.
- Thank you.

Together we can unhinge the musical world!

You write the necessary music for me,

l'll distribute it,
and turn the ring of your sounds

into the jingle of change.

That's not a bad sound l'd be creating.

Beethoven,

be a clever man!

Forward!

Write the Battle of Trafalgar for me!

Storm, hui, hui!

Cannons boom, rums, rums, rums!

The masts break and crash, crack, crick!

The screams of the injured and dying, oh!

Admiral Nelson orders the attack,
the water foams and gurgles,

those drowning call out ''Help, help!''

That's art, my dear Beethoven.

That's what people want to hear.

They want to think while they listen.

They want to recognize themes
that were announced to them.

That satisfies them, nothing else.

Art must be understandable
to a wide audience. Otherwise, it's not art!

Believe me, your M�lzel,
l know what l'm talking about!

Everything else is just crazy ideas!

M�lzel announces:

''The Battle of Trafalgar,''
by Ludwig van Beethoven!

Sounds good, right?

l need the money, especially now,

but it won't work.

lt's impossible.

l can't.

l couldn't put notes on paper for it anymore.

l'm not able to anymore.

You composed the ''Battle'' symphony.
You can do it again.

lf you've done it once, you can do it again.

ls it easier to touch fire
if you've burned yourself once?

You speak of things

as you understand them, M�lzel.

But you understand nothing.

Absolutely nothing!

Beethoven,
you have a pot of gold in your hands!

And you're throwing it away!

What the people are saying is right:

''Beethoven

is mad!''

lf l compose what you're asking,
the voice will fall silent.

What voice?

The inner voice.

lt doesn't express itself
in imitation cannon shots.

l wouldn't be myself anymore.

Though l don't really know who l am.

But nobody really knows that.

And whoever thinks he knows,

knows nothing.

l'd just be a part of your machines.

The part from which the notes come.

But... Oh, come.

A gift.

A small gift from M�lzel to Beethoven.

Listen closely!

You're destroying your future.

Beethoven, madness!

Without me, M�lzel,
in 20 years, nobody will know you anymore.

Be reasonable!

All right, M�lzel.

Your zeal is laudable,
but your reasoning isn't mine.

And l never accept anything
that's completely worthless to me.

Many thanks, M�lzel.

THE AGlTATOR

He overthrew himself
with his imperial coronation.

He became a tyrant

trampling on the rights and hopes of men.

Prometheus defeated Bonaparte,
Prometheus.

Cheers, Ludwig, to your parliament!

The English parliament,
now that's something, gentlemen!

That's an ideal. Admirable.

Cheers!

Citizens' representation.
That's all l have to say.

Citizens' representation.

That would just be the beginning.
- The beginning of the end, Sir!

lf just anyone
could have a say in government,

it would result in great confusion!

You'd just have to try it out.

The king isn't the only one with a head.

Other people have them too.

But not for much longer,
if you keep blathering.

Two things in this world are necessary
to make us human,

just two:

''The starry sky above me...

and the moral law inside me.''

Had lmmanuel Kant written
nothing but this one sentence,

he would still be the greatest.

l don't know Kant.
He's probably one of those.

''The laws inside me...'' No!

Then we wouldn't need police,
or authorities!

What is authority?
An old garment that can no longer be mended!

Let it go, Ludwig, it's time to go home.

The morality of man
is not a gift from the emperor!

No?

Just look back in the old books.
ln ancient Greece, they already wrote:

''l was born to share love, not hate.''

And Schiller:
''All men will become brothers!''

No decree from on high
will help us with that.

No royal edict.

We need beautiful equality

in order to become humans, and brothers.

Count me out! Count me out!

Naturally we'll count you out, honorable Sir!

You may remain what you are:

A stupid fool.

Come, we're leaving now.
We've come an eon too soon.

That's all we need, for every fool

to prescribe what our emperor must do.

lt wouldn't be long until a revolution,

where they chop off decent people's heads
for not thinking like they do.

You won't change people either, Ludwig.

Certainly not by myself.

TWO MEMENTOS

Jesus Christ be praised...

ln the name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Ghost.

The poor girl.
- Make way there.

What's going on?
What happened, neighbor?

She took her life, the servant girl,
up there, from the 2nd floor.

Because of a fellow.
They still don't know if she's really dead.

Hopefully she is.
-What?

Hopefully she's still alive,
then she'll be punished.

Suicide is punishable, Sir.
Not to mention the punishment up there!

Punishment up where?
On the 2nd floor?

Heretic!

An atheist!

Atheist!

That's probably the fellow, the seducer,

joking about his victim!

Come here, you criminal!

Stop, or you'll end up tonight
in a place where you won't be happy.

Herr van Beethoven didn't mean it like that,
he's hard of hearing.

lt was a mistake, go home everyone!

You should go inside now.

You see, the crowd is a beast
that one must curb.

Thanks.

Thank you.

But it was my mistake.

l shouldn't have said that,

in the presence of death.

lt was my pleasure, farewell.

Good night, Sir.

lt's simply abnormal.

Look at him,
no wife, no children, no regular life.

Of course he's taken ill!
lf he wasn't already.

ls he hiding a secret?

He's actually quite pitiful.
- Might there be an unhappy love affair?

Maybe someone left him,
and he can't get over it.

Maybe he hates women.
- No, he doesn't.

He's actually a handsome gentleman.
-Very handsome.

lmpressive appearance.

But always deep in his thoughts.

What does he think about
while running absently through the streets?

Maybe he's thinking about music.

He's always thinking about music?
That can't be. lt's morbid.

Exactly what l'm saying, pathological.

He's not someone like us,

he's a living bundle of notes.

lt's like he's hunting something,
but can't catch it.

Yes, poor man,
it doesn't look good for him.

But you can't help him.
- No, nobody can help him.

Lucky there aren't too many like him.

You can't do anything about it.
- Nothing at all.

Your father, God bless him, confided in me.

He always wanted you
to be better off than him,

though a cashier isn't a bad position.

And you can't walk around in that suit.

And you must study something decent.

You shall become a decent man.

l promised the deceased that,
upon my honor.

What do you think, mother?
- He could use a decent suit.

He needs something entirely different:
a proper pedagogical education,

which will teach him
to be a good Christian.

Sincerity, honesty.

Belief in man's calling in this world,
brotherly love.

He's grown so fast lately.
We keep having to buy new clothes.

Not brotherly love
the way you understand it.

Come Karl,
your uncle is in a foul mood today.

l didn't mean it like that.

A harsh word often slips from an ill man.

l'm just an old, grumpy man.

l'm not feeling very well...
Karl could accompany me home.

Not today,
he hasn't finished his homework yet.

l attach great importance to his education.

The deceased always gave me
great credit for that.

l wouldn't hurt him if he came,

nor would it you, Sister-in-law.

He can also learn sincerity and honesty
from the priest.

Fine, Karl, go with your uncle,
but don't come home too late.

Adieu Madame, thank you.

l'll take care of the boy.

Adieu, Johann.
-Visit us sometime, Ludwig.

Adieu, Sister-in-law.
God intended it this way.

THE ARTlSTAS CHEF

Greetings!

Come in, my dear Schuppanzigh,
come right in.

Today your big belly
will have something tasty.

You love to joke, don't you, Master?

All praise the fat ones!

Please come in, this way,
not long now until dinner.

A dinner in a major key,

a harmonious soup,
a symphonic roast,

a work from your most humble of composers.

Spiritual food, in exchange for physical.

Stephan.

Ludwig's living situation
is headed in a favorable direction.

The Kinsky heirs
will continue providing for him.

That is most desirable.
-Very good!

Finally some good news!
- Hurrah for Beethoven!

Excuse me!

l have to stir a couple more bars
into the soup.

Of course the world can live without art,
even quite well.

But l can't, because l'd starve
without notes to copy.

That's the situation.
- Forgive me, but l'm of a different opinion.

Humanity cannot exist without art.
Art is its higher mode of existence.

By experiencing a piece of art,
man intensifies his existence!

He's no longer just a caterpillar
crawling around on this planet,

multiplying and eating.
- But he must eat, my friend!

Wait till you're older,
and there's no money in the bank,

and nothing to eat in the house.

But you do have a wife,
and three children.

Then your ''higher existence'' will vanish.
- How can you serve art

with such views?

Does the Pope believe in God?

Or does he believe
that the belief in God is necessary,

so that he can be Pope?

Here comes the soup! Here it comes!

The royal soup!

Please hand me the soup plates!
- l'll just stay seated here.

And so throughout the day,
till the setting of the sun,

we sat together, devouring meat
and having our fill of wine.

And l hope, my friends,
that this meal

won't turn you into Circe's pigs,
a shank of which

we will enjoy today.
- That's right.

Bon Appetit!
- Long live the Master!

l hope you like it!

Tasty, no?

Right?
- Certainly.

l bet you didn't expect your note scribbler
to come up with something like this.

Peppered

and seasoned.

The roast is on its way.
Eat faster, friends.

To the table, young man!
There's still soup left.

You have bladder problems? Hurry up!

Another good dish is on its way!

Simply too much salt.
Give me the plates, here's how we'll do it.

So he won't notice anything.

Too bad this plant will die.
- Better it than us.

Quick Schuppanzigh, the window.
-Yes, that's right.

You can't do that...

lf he notices...

People on these streets empty their bedpans
out the window anyway.

Things are mixed together,
they never notice the difference.

What if you hit someone out there?

ln that case we'll use Mozart's Requiem,
as usual.

That looks good, very good.

All gone! You gluttons!

That's why we're here.

Exquisite, Master! Parisian cuisine!

BACKGROUND

Here you are.

Pardon.

''...books by Voltaire
were smuggled in again,

translated into the German language.

A few copies were seized,

but others must have escaped
the attention of the authorities,

because copies of poems
are circulating in Salzburg, Steyr,

Graz, and even in Eisenstadt.''
What orders does Your Excellency give?

Find out whether
the copies stem from one source,

whether one organizer is behind this,

or whether various scatterbrains
are secretly entertaining themselves

with the archaic heresies
of this questionable Frenchman.

Next.

News from the capital, Your Excellency.

''The aforementioned Beethoven, Ludwig
dotes on his nephew Karl,

and though his own financial state
is not in the best order,

he has enrolled him in the
Giannattasio del Rio boarding school,

so that he might receive
an education befitting his class.

Despite this welcome behavior,

Beethoven continues to speak out
against the nobility,

though nobles support him,

and he would be unable to compose
without their gracious support.''

He's biting the hand that feeds him,
Your Excellency.

''Furthermore,

Beethoven promotes
English parliamentarianism,

democratic institutions,
and so-called popular sovereignty.

Whether he harbors seditious intentions

could not yet be determined.''

Our observation of him will continue.
New report to follow in four weeks.

Harmless, completely harmless, Kralovetz.

Let the gentleman say what he pleases.

We will not exert pressure
on a world-famous artist.

lf l may comment, Your Excellency:

Art ends where politics begin.

Your Excellency has always opposed
clemency in matters of the state.

The artist is a curious case, Kralovetz.

He has the ear of the people,
but not in all matters.

His works are received and accepted,

but nobody
takes his political opinions seriously.

The public believes in specialization.

A carpenter knows carpentry.
An artist knows art.

And a politician knows politics.
- Exactly.

Mixing competencies

is unthinkable for our dear Austrians.

An artist who talks about politics.

How frivolous!

The words of the revered Goethe,

''Artist, create! Never speak!''
have asserted themselves here as well.

Whatever you do,
do not intervene, Kralovetz.

Forgive me, Your Excellency,

is that quote from Goethe
the privy councilor,

or Goethe the poet?

Uncle!

Get me out of here! l can't stand it!

l didn't do anything wrong, Uncle.
Believe me!

A BlTABOUT FREEDOM

ln my breast is a heart
that endures affliction.

Ere this l have suffered much
and toiled much...

The housekeeper is cheating me.

l only just bought the coffee,
and now it's gone!

She won't do that to me.
l'm paying attention.

Well?

Who sent you?
- No,

nobody sent me.

l'm interested in music.

l'd like to be of help.

With composing?

No.

With everyday difficulties.

l can't afford a secretary.

But if you'd like to stay on anyway...

You make me very happy.

One more thing...
- Of course, there had to be something.

What is it? Are you a murderer?

Do you have five illegitimate children?

Do you drink?

No.

lt's better if you hear it from me,
Herr van Beethoven,

and not from others.

l have spent time in prison.

Pity.

Really too bad...

That changes everything.

l understand.

But l wasn't imprisoned for theft.

Oh no.

What must you think of me?
l went to prison because of politics.

Politics!

For disseminating subversive ideas

in aid of the overthrow
of the imperial-royal regime.

Yes, it was bad.

Why didn't you say that right away?

That interests me.

What do you think
of English parliamentarianism?

The constitutional monarchy?

Sovereignty of the people?

Go ahead, don't be shy!

l've never been to Britain.

l've never been to Britain!

l've always been here in Vienna.

Yes, l'm opposed to absolutism.

Opposed to absolutism!

l'm opposed to bondage,

wherein people become dumb as cattle.

Well, it's not that bad in our Austria.

l can voice my opinion everywhere.

l can defend my views.

There exists

a certain amount of freedom here.

For you perhaps, but not for us.

At the risk of your
throwing me out again, Master,

but...

You're confusing the freedom of an artist

with free political activity.

You can't measure out freedom.

There's no such thing as a bit of freedom
and a bit of bondage.

A woman can't be half-pregnant.

ln contrast to music.
Which can be good, average, bad,

or terrible.

You mean l have a fool's license, no?

Maybe it's something else.

Thanks to my material independence,

l can open my mouth.

Nobody can throw me out on the streets,

like if l'd become a court composer.

Then l'd have to keep quiet

and cower.

But look, young man,

because l'm dependent on no one,

even if it's sometimes just
the freedom to perish,

l serve as an example.

The people see a man
who can do as he wishes,

which they would also like to do.

ls that not more than a fool's license?

Pardon me, but it's not much.

Fine... but my music?

Doesn't the music change people,
make them feel different?

Better, perhaps?

More human, so to speak?

Yes, at a concert, surely.

But when they leave the concert hall,
they return to their daily lives.

Yes, that may be.

But it may also be

that this rare and oddly uplifting feeling

leads man to want to feel this
in his daily life.

And he feels it, l'm sure of it.

As soon as he acts humanely,
in agreement with...

l'll just say it in Kantian terms:

with morality.

Nobody has ever felt good

as a wretch or a servant.

MATERlAL UNDERPlNNlNGS

A man with stockings such as these
will never marry.

Dear Josephine, look at this,

this is not a holey stocking,
but a symptom.

lt is, Madame von Stackelberg,

a symptom of my material situation.

How should l feed you

and your children? Our children?

And clothe us?

And shelter us?

And l don't know what else?

With the money that l'm not earning?

l'd have to sell my soul to the devil.

Or to M�lzel.

The eternal perspective of art!

l wish the Archduke shared this view.

But if he did, he wouldn't be an archduke.

l think, for all the money
a cannon costs the emperor,

one could re-sole all the shoes in Vienna.

Mine first, of course, since l thought of it.

Not a single cloud!

Emperor, you can keep your cannon.

You called, Master?

Have we received the fee from
Breitkopf & H�rtel from Leipzig? - Not yet.

Then l'll have to sell a bank share.

The fee should come in any day now.

The fee should come in any day now.

You know, it's all for Karl.
He's going to inherit it all.

That's why l don't want

to sell any bank shares.

Otherwise l feel like...

like l'd be taking what's really his.

Breitkopf hasn't paid yet,
but what he writes is worth gold!

Successful performances of your compositions

in Paris, London,

Leipzig and St. Petersburg.

The world knows
what it has in Beethoven, Master.

But my dear Viennese!

Ah, dear Frau Schnaps.

Six pounds of butter.

Six!

Yes, Herr van Beethoven,
l understood, three kilos.

Pounds, kilograms...

Yes.

But my dear lousy Viennese
don't know the things the world does.

That is my misfortune.

They're petty bourgeois
who don't care about other countries

and think they're the center of the world.

When they're actually just its a...

Ankle joint.
That's what l wanted to say: ankle joint.

THE JOYS OF COUNTRY LlFE

We're pleased that you're taking time
to relax here in the countryside.

We're pleased, though the times are so bad.

lf you knew how much l have to put in
to maintain the estate.

Money is like snow in the summer.

Everything used to be better.
Countrymen lived like kings.

But today, they rank right behind beggars.
lt's a shame.

The emperor ought to know that,
though he has no idea.

Nobody says anything to him,
his officials shield him.

Otherwise our emperor
would certainly help us.

How much longer is the trip?
-Almost there, just up the road.

What did you say?
-We're almost there.

Right during the middle of the harvest.

We're doing poorly, Ludwig, very poorly.

We're very happy about your visit.

You must speak louder,
my hearing is getting worse.

No money! lf you didn't pay
for your visit here... Pay! Pay!

We couldn't afford any guests at all.
lmpossible!

Superfluous mouths to feed.

l understood everything.
You're happy l'm visiting.

Yes, very.

We're all very happy.

Hold on.
- l'm glad you're here.

What?
- l'm glad you're here!

This is for you.
- Thanks.

Welcome, Brother-in-law.

Thank you.

Won't you come in?

Won't you come in?
-Yes, gladly.

He hears less and less,
don't even bother.

He can put his own room in order,
he's used to the mess.

You take care of the servants.

l've already lost too much time.
lf you don't...

keep an eye on these people,
they'll steal your last penny!

This rabble.

We eat at 6.

Praise Jesus Christ.
-Anna!

Forever and ever, Amen.
-Amen.

How are things in Vienna?

How are things in Vienna?

We had a couple good concerts.

l don't conduct any more.

Because of my hearing.

But the Viennese are crazy about music,
as always.

Especially the gentlemen of noble lineage.

The so-called aristocracy.

Most of them are stupid! lt's obvious.

There are only a few kind-hearted men
among them, like the archduke.

Last week he voiced his distress.

The archduke doesn't have it easy either.
He's an honest man

who worries about the future.

The populace of the empire is so varied,

and they all consider their own interests,
not the greater good.

That makes it difficult, says the archduke.

The poor man wouldn't have so many worries
if we had a constitutional monarchy.

Then the burdens of the state would be
distributed across many shoulders.

You didn't tell him that, did you?
-Why not?

Do you think l'm afraid
to tell noble men what l think?

English parliamentarianism, for example...
- Up to bed! Now!

What's going on?
- Up to bed, march!

Does Uncle really give orders
to the archduke?

Nonsense. Your uncle dreamed it.

He's not always right in the head.
Let's go now.

The child must go to bed, it's late.

And she doesn't need to hear
things that aren't even good for adults.

l'm raising her to believe in the Lord,
and to respect the emperor.

l won't let you ruin that.

Such speeches corrupt her.
-Just wait, Johann!

As soon as she gets a little bigger,

she'll see that the world is different

from what her father told her.

And then, Johann,

she will either blame you, or the world.

And both are unattractive.

Here you see how much light
each of us here can afford.

Candles are more expensive this year,
we're in a depression.

You should have that patented in Vienna.

Do you really think

that l should appear
at the imperial patent office?

l've thought about that too.

l think we Beethovens have it all up here.

Perhaps we could actually
make money with this.

A lot of money.

Yes, good night.
- Good night, my dear Ludwig.

''But see these tapers, 'tis their part

to shine even while they waste away.''
- ...while they waste away.

Goethe.
-What?

Yes. Good night.

Madame, this is no place for gymnastics.

Divine Master!

Do you perform such artistic exercises
for everyone who's out on a stroll?

What is this nonsense?
What do you want?

Dear Master,
please, sign this picture for me.

What?

What do you want?
-Your autograph!

And please add
''For Henriette von Asperg,'' Master.

Thank you! A thousand thanks!

Genius of German music. Hail thee,
son of Euterpe. Beloved of the Gods.

lf he signs each of his portraits himself,

l'll pay him per piece

the horrendous sum
of one whole kreuzer.

Not to mention the publicity
your brother will gain from it.

l'm doing that for free.
So, are we in business?

He'll never do it. l know he won't.

He'll throw you out.

Yes, but you have the same name,
the same last name, don't you?

Well, then. A Beethoven is a Beethoven!
The first name doesn't matter anyway.

But a kreuzer is a kreuzer.

Come, have a go at it.
You probably know how to write.

Quick!
- Greetings, Johann!

Always working hard?
-Yes, yes.

Say, did you notice that people
are wandering around the house recently?

l'd like to know what they want,
there's nothing to see here.

That is peculiar.
- l haven't seen anything.

Perhaps they were journeymen?

How much longer do you plan on staying?

Fish and guests stink on the third day.
- Oh no!

You want to get rid of me.
- No, what are you thinking? Not at all.

We're very glad you're here.

Especially our daughter.
- Oh, yes.

Yes, yes.
- Our daughter!

Farewell, Maestro.

Me too, dammit!

There he is!

Greetings.
- lt's an honor!

Greetings!

That was him.

lt was majestic,

the way he sat in that wagon.

Just as l always imagined him.

Majestic.

Hopefully you'll visit us again soon.

Things were too unsettled
here with you in the country.

l'm looking forward to the city.

l can work there undisturbed.

THE HERMlT CRAB

A maiden can of what she thinks

confess to only half.

l completely forgot to ask

whether l can offer you something,
perhaps a cup of coffee?

Though l've memorized every line
about Phaeacian hospitality,

l've become a barbarian.

Kindly forgive me.

No, l don't want anything. Stay here.

lnstead of another housekeeper,
you should finally take a wife.

You need a woman.

lt's obvious.

She would have to come
from the sphere of the arts.

Someone who looks
beyond small, everyday things.

This solitude will do you in.

You shouldn't be alone any longer,

that's not good for anyone.

lt's not the solitude. One perishes from life.

Or should one say,

from a lack of life?

As one suffocates from a lack of air,

or starves from a lack of food.

Did you know that constant hunger

renders one unable to eat?

ln the end, the starving refuse

to consume any food at all.

Yes.

That's how it must be.

That's a good comparison.

Didn't you want to go through
the whole section with me?

Another time, Madame.

Farewell, adieu.

Adieu, Beethoven.

Joy, thou beauteous godly lightning,

daughter of Elysium.

Fire drunken we are ent'ring

heavenly, thy holy home!

Thy enchantments bind together,

what did custom stern divide.

Every man becomes a brother,

where thy gentle wings abide.

TO LET

Thy enchantments bind together,

what did custom stern divide.

Every man becomes a brother,

where thy gentle wings abide.

Be embraced,

ye millions!

Take this kiss

throughout the world!

Be embraced,

ye millions!

Take this kiss

throughout the world!

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