The Immortal Beloved

Gary Oldman's stern face looking faroff.

Fade to a window and Johanna Ter Steege is crying reading his letter, dressed in black and puts her hand to her face. Cut and she is wearing a black headdress as she walks, hands folded, solemnly to his grave. She takes two steps and stands silently looking at it.

During all this his voice, soft and laden with emotion:

" ...I can live only completely with you or not at all...Yes....it must be....I must go to sleep now....Be calm, love....Today, yesterday...what longing with years for you....You...you're my life...my everything....Farewell then...go on loving me...ever yours...ever mine...forever...."

The camera closes in on the white marbled obelisk that marks a single word. Beethoven.

And below is the music that ends one of the finest films (Immortal Beloved, 1994) on Beethoven made till date. Never have I watched the ending credits rolling up with such rapt attention and pleasure. Daniel Barenboim does justice to the Emperor Concerto just as Gary Oldman plays Beethoven to perfect note.

Sheer genius, both music and the man; but then, thats ludwig for you.