Cast

Martina Gedeck, Pascal Greggory, Malik Zidi

Director (s)

Helma Sanders-Brahms

Writer (s)

Helma Sanders-Brahms

Producer (s)

Alfred Huermer, Helma Sanders-Brahms

Synopsis

In 1850, Robert, his wife Clara and their five children settle down in Duesseldorf where he has accepted a position as musical director. For the resourceful musician, who is considered more as one of the worlds greatest composer than a conductor, it turns to be a bad decision. Nor is it a happy period for Clara, who is reduced to the role of housewife instead of acclaimed concert pianist performing throughout Europe to sold-out halls. That is, until she meets young, brilliant Johannes Brahms. Clara and Johannes fall for one another. Robert, who is sick and suffering from severe depression, attempts to drown himself in the river Rhine on Carnival Monday. His life is saved and he commits himself to a sanatorium. The relationship between Brahms, who cares for the family financially, and Clara grows even more intense. When Robert dies two years later, all the obstacles seem to have disappeared for them. Clara, however, refuses to marry again. Roberts shadow still weighs too heavy on her. But she will go on playing his and Johannes music in the worlds concert halls, expressing her feelings for him and for the moments of darkness they both experienced with Robert.

Festival Screenings

German Filmweek Tokyo, 2008 MOMA, 2008 Int'l FF Mannheim-Heidelberg Films de Femmes de Créteil, 2009 Flying Broom, 2009 Shanghai FF, 2009 Moskau FF, 2009 Taipei FF, 2009 Jecheon FF, 2009 German Currents, Filmweek L.A., 2009 Rendezvous with Madness FF, Toronto, 2009 Scanorama Litauen, 2009 German FF Singapur, 2009 Uni Fest Zaragoza Women FF, 2010 Jakarta FF, 2010 Schumann FF, London, 2010 Sao Paulo FF, 2010