Copying Beethoven
Vienna, 1824. In the days before the first performance of the Ninth Symphony, Beethoven needs help with copying out the charts, so a promising student of composition, Anna Holtz, 23, is sent to assist him. She not only aids the transcription of the notes, she provides guidance from the orchestra pit as Beethoven conducts the work's debut. During the next two years, the final ones of Beethoven's life, Anna provides assistance to the deaf, temperamental, ailing man. In return, he tutors her in composition and explains to her the ideas and principles of Romanticism. He tries to speak for God.
The film underperformed commercially against its limited budget of $11.0M, earning $6.2M globally (-44% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its innovative storytelling within the biography genre.
2 wins & 5 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Copying Beethoven (2006) reveals strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Agnieszka Holland's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.3, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Ludwig van Beethoven
Anna Holtz
Martin Bauer
Schlemmer
Main Cast & Characters
Ludwig van Beethoven
Played by Ed Harris
The legendary composer in his final years, deaf and struggling to complete his Ninth Symphony while battling his deteriorating health and volatile temperament.
Anna Holtz
Played by Diane Kruger
A young music conservatory student hired as Beethoven's copyist who becomes his creative collaborator and emotional anchor during the premiere of his Ninth Symphony.
Martin Bauer
Played by Matthew Goode
Anna's fiancé, a struggling engineer who feels threatened by her dedication to Beethoven and the composer's influence over her life.
Schlemmer
Played by Ralph Riach
Beethoven's longtime copyist and assistant who is dismissed and replaced by Anna, harboring resentment toward both of them.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Anna Holtz, a gifted young music student at the Vienna Conservatory, works diligently on her compositions while dreaming of becoming a serious composer in a world that dismisses women in music.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Anna is unexpectedly assigned to work as Beethoven's copyist when Schlemmer, his regular copyist, becomes too ill. This prestigious but daunting opportunity disrupts her ordinary student life.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Despite Beethoven's initial dismissal of her as a woman, Anna stands her ground and proves her musical worth. She commits to copying the Ninth Symphony, choosing to enter his chaotic world of genius and madness., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The triumphant premiere of the Ninth Symphony at the Karntnertortheater, where Anna helps conduct Beethoven through the performance from her position in the orchestra. The audience erupts in standing ovation—a false victory as challenges lie ahead., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Beethoven cruelly dismisses Anna's composition as derivative and unworthy, shattering her confidence and dreams. Her engagement to Martin crumbles as she realizes she cannot abandon her artistic calling for a conventional life., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Beethoven, now gravely ill, summons Anna and admits he was wrong to dismiss her work. He recognizes her genuine talent and encourages her to find her own voice. Anna chooses to return to him, synthesizing her compassion with her artistic ambition., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Copying Beethoven's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Copying Beethoven against these established plot points, we can identify how Agnieszka Holland utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Copying Beethoven within the biography genre.
Agnieszka Holland's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Agnieszka Holland films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Copying Beethoven takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Agnieszka Holland filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional biography films include After Thomas, Taking Woodstock and The Fire Inside. For more Agnieszka Holland analyses, see The Secret Garden, In Darkness and Europa Europa.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Anna Holtz, a gifted young music student at the Vienna Conservatory, works diligently on her compositions while dreaming of becoming a serious composer in a world that dismisses women in music.
Theme
Anna's mentor at the conservatory tells her that true artistry requires the courage to bare one's soul completely—a theme that will define both her journey and her understanding of Beethoven's genius.
Worldbuilding
Vienna 1824: We witness Anna's life as a student composer facing gender discrimination, her relationship with her fiance Martin, and the musical world's anticipation of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony premiere.
Disruption
Anna is unexpectedly assigned to work as Beethoven's copyist when Schlemmer, his regular copyist, becomes too ill. This prestigious but daunting opportunity disrupts her ordinary student life.
Resistance
Anna debates whether to accept the position, facing Beethoven's legendary temper and difficult nature. She visits his chaotic apartment and experiences his volatile personality firsthand, questioning if she can endure working for him.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Despite Beethoven's initial dismissal of her as a woman, Anna stands her ground and proves her musical worth. She commits to copying the Ninth Symphony, choosing to enter his chaotic world of genius and madness.
Mirror World
Anna begins developing a genuine artistic connection with Beethoven, who starts to see her not just as a copyist but as a fellow musician. Their relationship represents the thematic tension between convention and authentic artistic expression.
Premise
Anna works intensively with Beethoven on the Ninth Symphony, experiencing his creative process, his deafness, his brilliant insights, and his rage. The premiere approaches as she copies his revolutionary music while secretly working on her own compositions.
Midpoint
The triumphant premiere of the Ninth Symphony at the Karntnertortheater, where Anna helps conduct Beethoven through the performance from her position in the orchestra. The audience erupts in standing ovation—a false victory as challenges lie ahead.
Opposition
After the symphony's success, tensions mount. Anna's fiance Martin becomes jealous of her devotion to Beethoven. Beethoven's health deteriorates. Anna's own compositions are rejected, and she faces the stark reality of a woman's limited place in the music world.
Collapse
Beethoven cruelly dismisses Anna's composition as derivative and unworthy, shattering her confidence and dreams. Her engagement to Martin crumbles as she realizes she cannot abandon her artistic calling for a conventional life.
Crisis
Anna withdraws from both Beethoven and Martin, questioning whether she has any future as a composer. She contemplates abandoning music entirely, lost between two worlds—neither the conventional life nor the artistic one seeming possible.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Beethoven, now gravely ill, summons Anna and admits he was wrong to dismiss her work. He recognizes her genuine talent and encourages her to find her own voice. Anna chooses to return to him, synthesizing her compassion with her artistic ambition.
Synthesis
Anna tends to the dying Beethoven, and they share profound conversations about music, God, and immortality. She helps him complete his final work and comes to understand that true artistry means embracing both the beauty and the suffering of creation.
Transformation
After Beethoven's death, Anna walks through Vienna transformed—no longer the timid student but a woman who has touched genius and found her own artistic voice. She carries his legacy forward, ready to compose with the courage he taught her.