Friedemann Bach (1941) User Reviews (3)

Captivating drama from the period of early classical music

[fluminist · 8/10 · 24 February 2015]

In approaching this film, one must bear in mind that, despite the historical setting, it is not a source of reliable biographical information on Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, not is it intended to be. In fact, practically all episodes shown in the film are fictitious (which makes it no worse than 'Amadeus', 'Immortal Beloved' or 'Copying Beethoven'). Nevertheless, this is a very compelling drama exploring the loneliness of the gifted and highly original creative genius struggling with the contradiction between the absolute demands of his artistic calling and the compromises required to please an audience and secure employment.

Although the plot is not strictly historical, the film creates a very authentic mood and is free of glaring anachronisms (such as found in 'Amadeus' or, far worse, 'Copying Beethoven'); not only the costumes and props, but also the character's attitudes fit the period. Moreover, considering the time of production, this film is enjoyably free of propaganda.

In summary, this is a little known gem which lovers of mid-18th century music will find entertaining. Highly recommended.

Watch the great Gruendgens

[barter2009 · 26 September 2009]

It's a delightful and touching film about a very talented musician, the eldest son of Sebastian Bach. Along with "Amadeus" I'd call this film the best portrait of a musician on the screen. In the leading role we see Gustav Gruendgens, who is playing piano quite skillful, though we don't see his fingers. One can believe, he is really playing piano as well as Friedemann Bach did himself. Gruendgens had those radiant eyes in this film which made him to a great impersonator of an artist in general. Yet the talented musician was not successful and died at the end in a bitter poverty. The reason was as it's shown in the film his unstable, unsecure character. So he gave up his positions as a church organist and as a composer in Dresden and the ladies who loved him. There is at least one important question asked in this film: how likable should make the artist his creation? How much should he think of the benevolence of his audience? It's a vital question for every creative worker. There is also some puzzle about this film, which I could not solve on my own. It's about the movement of Gruendgens during his last talk to his former fiancé. He moved his arms as a marionette, which could be a link to some other film or stage play, unknown to me. So please watch him very attentively, he definitely deserves your attention. I always love to watch this film and can highly recommend it to you.

A good non propaganda German film classic

[cynthiahost · 10/10 · 6 July 2012]

Gustav Grundgens wears a realist wig, since he was bald Headed.He plays the son of Sebastian Johann Bach.But he want to go independent of his music, from his fathers success, played by Eugen Klopfer. Friedman takes the place of his Father, who prefers the church, in being court concert organizer.He become successful and is encourage to compose for a ballet for court Ballerina,Played by Camilla Horn.He falls for Comtess Antonia Kollowsrat, played by Leni Marenbach,of when a train goes by ,1943, who encourages him to go back to his roots and compose independent, but Count Von Bruhl loves her too,played by Johann Rienman.But because he , Friedman ask her to wait,too long, for marriage,she ends up getting married to the count.Freidmann end up going down hill working for a comedy troop,then tries to sell his songs ends up in a duel with a customer and dying in his brothers bed.How tragic,whether the real one suffered this way ,I would have to check it out.Gustav Knuth plays his beast friend and fiancé to his sister,played by Lotte Koch, who attempts to helps Friedman to get a organist job at a church,but is rejected cause he's not like his father .Wolfgang Liebeneiner, before he turned to director. plays his brother.This film is a digital transfer and it contains subtitle.This d.v.d also contains a cartoon made in 1936 in a.g.f.a. color, advertising a spice for soup,Maggie.It has the Die Deutch Waschnau news, in which the Nazis bomb a Russian town and misses a Jewish synagogue and the movies audience is lied too in which the news is claiming that they destroyed the town, because the Nazis missed the church.Then the Lithuanians are welcoming the Nazi soldiers as their rescuers, on the account they hated Stalin and the communist. Available at germanwarfilm.com 07/06/12