Bach's Fight for Freedom
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| Bach's Fight for Freedom | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Stuart Gillard |
| Written by | Story David Devine Writer Raymond Storey |
| Produced by | David Devine Richard Mozer |
| Starring | Ted Dykstra Kyle Labine Ian D. Clark Rosemary Dunsmore Kevin Jubinville Ross Petty Eric Peterson |
| Cinematography | David Perrault |
| Edited by | Michael Pacek |
| Music by | Johann Sebastian Bach |
Production company | Devine Entertainment |
Release date | 1995 |
Running time | 53 min. |
| Countries | Canada Czech Republic |
| Language | English |
Bach's Fight for Freedom is a 1995 film created by David Devine and Richard Mozer for HBO Original Films of New York and directed by Stuart Gillard.
Set in the early 18th century Prussian states, Johann Sebastian Bach, in his 30s and a chapel organist, is enraged. It is bad enough his boss, the Duke, stifles his creativity. Now the bumbling fool has given him 10-year-old Frederick Muller, a servant he suspects is a spy! But soon, the temperamental composer recognizes a kindred soul in his new assistant, for both know too well what it is like not to be able to follow your dream.
The film was shot in Český Krumlov, Bohemia, in the southern Czech Republic. The soundtrack score features the Brandenburg Concertos, which were produced by David Devine for Sony Music of New York. The Slovak Philharmonic was commissioned to perform the soundtrack and was conducted by Ondrej Leonard.
The film has been broadcast in over 100 countries in many languages and has been shown in music classes.
Plot
Ten-year-old Frederick Muller is a poor boy who lives with his mother Gerta and father Josef in an early 18th century Prussian dukedom. Josef is the Duke's butler and will do anything to impress the duke. Josef is also estranged from Frederick, who does not want to be a servant of the Duke, but rather a stonemason. On Frederick's birthday, during a party Frederick was invited to, Johann Sebastian Bach storms in and argues with the Duke about his working conditions and the music that they both say should be played in the chapel, Bach says new and happier music should start being played, but the duke prefers only dirges or, as he calls them, "the old hymns". In order to impress the duke once more, Josef makes Frederick Bach's assistant. At first, Bach is annoyed at Frederick but starts to see Frederick as a friend and they spend a lot of time together.
Josef starts to hate Bach when Bach takes Frederick to the Red Palace, the home of the Duke's nephew, Prince August, for a performance. Bach is again angered that he was defeated for the role of the Concertmaster by Melchior, as the Concertmaster is bound to retire in a month, angering the Duke. The final straw is when Bach applies for another position for Prince Leopold in Cothen, angering the Duke and the concertmaster. They arrest Bach, separate Frederick from Bach, and put Frederick on probation. Meanwhile, Josef gets enraged when Frederick still supports Bach, but Frederick is fed up with how his family still has to continue to pander to the Duke and declares Bach is freer than Josef and anyone else in the household. Frederick runs away and Josef storms up to Bach's jail and rips up his music. Bach is able to play without his music, saying that he learned it from memory. Josef begs Bach to not drive Frederick away from him, but Bach tells him that he (Josef) is the only one who can drive Frederick away. Realizing his mistake, Josef leaves.
The next day, Prince August and his fiancé Elonora try to free Bach but the Duke dismisses it, comparing Bach to a slave, but Frederick and Josef enter at that very moment, convincing the others to free him, saying Bach's music makes him feel free, and a man's soul cannot be held prisoner. The Duke, admitting defeat, lets Bach go free. The film ends with Bach and Frederick, who has decided to play music like Bach, playing for a crowd. The Duke and concertmaster, representing the Old Guard, sit dejectedly near the crowd and the Duke states that he still liked the "Old Hymns" and the concertmaster agrees.
Cast
- Ted Dykstra as Johann Sebastian Bach
- Kyle Labine as Frederick Muller
- Ian D. Clark as Josef Muller
- Rosemary Dunsmore as Gerta Muller
- Kevin Jubinville as Prince August
- Ross Petty as the Concertmaster
- Eric Peterson as the Duke
- Tanya Posival as Maria Bach
- Jaroslav Kubes as Melchior
- Ann Tabler as Elonora
External links
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