It happens quite often, that I see a film in which some music is embedded, that stays in the mind. Then I want to know, what music it is. Only rarely such information is given in the end titles. So it is the case in "Sauerbruch". The film closes with Sauerbruch being reminded by his wife not to forget to go to the concert. "Bach! That is good." he replies. After this we see them entering a Gothic church while a Boy's choir with organ is performing "Unser Leben ist ein Schatten" (Our life is a shadow). This wonderful piece is indeed by Bach - but not by the famous Johann Sebastian, but by his ancestor Johann Bach (1604-1673). There is a CD-box (three CDs) with the title "The Bach family" (though being a German recording, the box bears this English title). And another hint: The recording in the film is a bit more grandiose concentrating on the powerful beginning of the piece. The mighty closing organ chords do not belong to this motet.
Review of Sauerbruch - Das war mein Leben
