Thoroughly irritating work, harmful, lack of respect.
This is both a bad movie in itself and a source of misinformation. There is no absolutely feeling of authenticity. We modern people, as Rammstein describes us, are americans and consumers and we are doomed to sameness and we are spreaded everywhere. That is why director here is supposing the era of Bach people were like us, drinking, giggling, pissing anywhere (!), fornicating, conversations are made for entertain and without any sense of conviction and dignity. But no, this film is not a mythbuster, it is a falsification. Somebody here has taken name of Bach and is just pretending and acting he is (watch and compare this movie to Bach miniseries made in DDR in 1985). Strangely enough, the film is Continental production and actors speak German, so may this production be a warning example how movies should not be made in Europe.
The star in the film - a fatal miscast- does not resemble at all Johan Sebastian Bach who can be heard in his music, can be seen in the paintings or is described by his wife in "Anna Magdalenas little chronicle". The real Bach was profoundly religious, serious, always meditating his music, a humble servant of God and emperor. "Always honest", writes Anna Magdalena. Not a corrupt old rock star, aging Amadeus of Milos Forman: Lock up your daughters, the Bach family is coming to town! In reality, he gave up composing profane instrumental music to be able to focus on organ playing and that is why he moved from Weimar to Leipzig... Church organ has -if you think a moment- slightly a different character than the flute that is widely used in the movie. Bach had austere lutheran education, he worked as cantor and latin teacher and wrote tons of music for pedagogical purposes, to make other people better persons and musicians... he composed not a single opera.
But ok, I was not there, I did not know Bach personally. But I know that Voltaire visited Frederic the Great in 1740 (and second time about 1752) and Bach visited him in 1747. How could they possibly meet in the wagons passing by each others? Other rewievers here are grateful for this movie for it´s documental value...
