''Geliebte Clara'' ("Beloved Clara") is a Franco-German-Hungarian 2008 film, directed by
Helma Sanders-Brahms
Helma Sanders-Brahms (20 November 1940 – 27 May 2014) was a German film director, screenwriter and producer.
Biography
Helma Sanders was born on 20 November 1940 in Emden, Germany. She attended a school for acting in Hannover from 1960 to 19 ...
, her last film before her 2014 death, about the pianist
Clara Schumann
Clara Josephine Schumann (; née Wieck; 13 September 1819 – 20 May 1896) was a German pianist, composer, and piano teacher. Regarded as one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era, she exerted her influence over the course of a ...
and her marriage with the composer
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann (; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career a ...
Hamburg
Hamburg (, ; nds, label=Hamburg German, Low Saxon, Hamborg ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (german: Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg; nds, label=Low Saxon, Friee un Hansestadt Hamborg),. is the List of cities in Germany by popul ...
, where the couple get to know the young composer
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms (; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid- Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, he spent much of his professional life in Vienna. He is sometimes grouped wit ...
, Clara and Robert Schumann take up residence in their new home in
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf ( , , ; often in English sources; Low Franconian and Ripuarian: ''Düsseldörp'' ; archaic nl, Dusseldorp ) is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second-largest city in ...
, where Robert begins his new job as musical director. The demands of composition of his new symphony, the '' Rhenish Symphony'', leads to tension between him and Clara.
A little later Brahms introduces a couple of his own compositions to the Schumanns and they are impressed by his compositional and pianistic skills. Allowing him to stay with them, Brahms lovingly cares for their children. Robert's work on the Rhenish Symphony continues to suffer, and he struggles with an addiction to the drug
laudanum
Laudanum is a tincture of opium containing approximately 10% powdered opium by weight (the equivalent of 1% morphine). Laudanum is prepared by dissolving extracts from the opium poppy (''Papaver somniferum Linnaeus'') in alcohol (ethanol).
R ...
, on which he is soon dependent. There is further tension between him and his wife, who is expecting another child. Shortly after the successful premiere of the Rhenish Symphony, Schumann becomes acquainted with Dr. Richartz who offers him help with his health problems.
Schumann sees the talented Brahms as his successor, but Brahms leaves the Schumann household when he realizes that he feels more than just friendship for Clara. Additionally the Schumanns are troubled with financial problems.
Robert tries in vain to take his own life, by jumping into the
River Rhine
), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland
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, source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein
, source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland
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, so ...
, but accepts the offer of Dr. Richartz to be a patient at his sanatorium at
Endenich
Endenich is a neighborhood in the western part of Bonn, Germany. Before 1904 it was an independent municipality. The village of Endenich was founded in the 8th century, and was first mentioned in 804 as ''Antiniche''. Today, about 12,000 people liv ...
in Bonn. Brahms returns to help Clara to care for children. The two tour together to raise money for the family, while Robert is a patient at the institute. Eventually Clara and Brahms travel to Bonn, to say a final farewell.
After Robert's death, Brahms and Clara realise that their relationship can never be truly fulfilled, but Brahms celebrates another success with the premiere of his '' First Piano Concerto'', with Clara as soloist.
Pascal Greggory
Pascal Greggory (born 8 September 1954) is a French actor.
Personal life
Greggory is openly gay. He had long-term relationships with Patrice Chéreau and François-Marie Banier.
Filmography
* '' Les Sœurs Brontë'' (1979) by André Téchiné
...
: Robert Schumann
*
Malik Zidi
Malik Zidi (born 14 February 1975)ifrance.com is a French film, television and theatre actor. He is a : Johannes Brahms
* Aline Annessy: Elise Schumann
* Brigitte Annessy: Bertha
* Marine Annessy:
Eugenie Schumann
Eugenie Schumann (1 December 1851 – 25 September 1938) was a German pianist and author.
Biography
Eugenie Schumann was born 1 December 1851 in Düsseldorf.
She was one of eight children and the youngest daughter of Robert and Clara Schuman ...
* Sascha Caparros: Ludwig Schumann
* Clara Eichinger: Marie Schumann
* Béla Fesztbaum: exchange
* Christine Oesterlein: Henriette
* Péter Takátsy: Wazielewski
* Walter Theil: Dr. Richartz
Critical reception
The ''Encyclopedia of International Film'' said: "The film suffers not only to its static camera, but especially on the miscast of Robert Schumann. Despite the usual quiet and nuanced acting actress to convey feelings so neither understandable nor noise, nor life force."
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper
A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background.
Newspapers can cover a wide ...
'' by
Steven Isserlis
Steven Isserlis (born 19 December 1958) is a British cellist. He has led a distinguished career as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, author and broadcaster. Acclaimed for his profound musicianship, he is also noted for his diverse repe ...