A quirky and captivating tale whose characters, led by the violinist Peters (Noah Taylor), embody the content of the celebrated Lecture 21 given by the professor Mondrian Kilroy (John Hurt). In turn, this tale is an analysis of the genesis of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, focussing on the Ode to Joy. Alessandro Baricco's directorial debut is a welcome addition after his previous contributions as a writer who has had two novels adapted to the wide screen.*

Lezione 21 is an inspiring morsel of chaotic human creation, both the film in itself and as a journey of discovery into Beethoven's world as an old and deaf man. The narrative structure, full of strange and surreal characters, is a cocktail of collisions: clashing historical periods, reality and fiction, silence and music, snow and fire, old age and youth, joy and despair.

Speckled with wonderful acting throughout, especially the fantastic ride led by Noah Taylor, as well as the small glimpses of an eccentric John Hurt, and last but not least one of the little known actors (whose name I cannot confirm) who plays the last aristocrat. Leonor Watling's excessive use of facial ticks lets the acting cast down a little, but not enough to harm the whole.

(* Novecento: pianiste, made into La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano (The Legend of 1900) with Tim Roth, and Seta, Silk in 2007.)