Bach FAQ 109
Bach Movies ... Are There any Bach Movies Bach and About the Lifes of the Bach Family of Musicians?..
To the point: there are many Bach films, that is films about Johann Sebastian Bach..
There have been quite a few films about Bach. And about the Bach family of musicians. They’ve been released over the years and decades. Ever since movies, cinema, and television have existed. Each, of course, in the style of its time. The production about Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, however, was the only “piece of trash” ... a Mr. Brachvogel took the liberty of “slamming” WFB. And the next biographer didn’t care whether he was spreading complete nonsense about a person who could no longer defend himself. Here, then, are all the films about Johann Sebastian Bach, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, and the Bach family of musicians..
The Bach Movie 1941..
Fascinating, fascinating: The first film about a Bach wasn’t about the great master, the greatest of all the Bachs, but about his son Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. Traugott Müller directed it as early as 1941, right in the middle of World War II. Many people remember this film by name: Gustaf Gründgens starred in it. And also Eugen Klöpfer and Leny Marenbach. Friedemann Bach is the title, and you can still buy it. For example, on Amazon. But not from my wife. Not from me either. But be warned: The film is a terrible piece of work. It’s best to read Bach FAQ 116 first..
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The Bach Movie 1967..
Also, the second Bach film – so to speak – and more than 25 years after the film about Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, was once again not about the master himself. Rather, it is the film adaptation of one of the best-known books on the life of J.S. Bach, that is The Little Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach. This film was produced in 1967 and 1968. It was a German-Italian co-production. Gustav Leonhardt played Johann Sebastian Bach. Christiane Lang played Anna Magdalena. The runtime is 94 minutes, and you can buy the DVD here. But not from me, and not from my wife’s Bach Publishing House either..
The Bach Movie 1972..
Bach in Arnstadt was the title of the next Bach film. It was made in 1972 in what was then East Germany (... DDR). It was directed by Uwe Detlev Jessen. And my favorite Bach biographer, Klaus Eidam, wrote the screenplay. The cast included Wolfgang Hosfeld, Blanche Kommerell, Ruth Kommerell, and, as always, many others. You can’t buy it anymore. Not on DVD, not on VHS, not at all..
The Bach Movie 1979..
In 1979, the biographical film Johann Sebastian Bach's Futile Journey to Fame was made in what was then East Germany (... GDR / DDR). Whatever political message the filmmakers intended to convey at the time. Victor Vicas directed and wrote the screenplay. The cast included Alexander May, Renate Richter, Peter Reusse, Henry Hübchen, and Regina Beyer. The film is no longer available for purchase, but at least a movie poster is, and only here..
The Bach Movie 1984..
The Cantor of St. Thomas's is a British film from 1984. Brian Cox played Johann Sebastian Bach, and Simon Mulligan played his son Wilhelm Friedemann. This film, a production for British television, is available only in English. Unfortunately, it is no longer available for purchase today..
The Bach Movie 1985..
1985 was the year when Bach fans around the world celebrated Bach’s 300th birthday. Just in case you’re wondering why this film is described in such detail here..
Johann Sebastian Bach is the title of the first film, which was released in 1985. It was produced between 1983 and 1984. It is an East German and Hungarian co-production for East German (... DDR / GDR) television. Conceived as a TV miniseries. It, too, is no longer available for purchase. The entire work runs 415 minutes, and what’s particularly exciting is that the screenplay was written by Lothar Bellag and, above all, by Klaus Eidam, my favorite biographer. Ullrich Thein played Johann Sebastian Bach and Angelika Waller played Maria Barbara. Anna Magdalena was played by Franziska Troegner, and you can read here, in full detail, who else was part of the cast in this Bach film. And what did I receive during the 2024 holiday season? A tip from Sabine that the entire series is now available to watch on YouTube. Via this link..
Also in 1985, Meinolf Fritzen produced a piece on Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. John Passion. The title: Passion and Emotion. It is no longer available for purchase ... at least not on Amazon..
In the third film released in the Bach Year 1985, Nikolaus Harnoncourt produced and performed the work Secular Music by Johann Sebastian Bach. Unfortunately, this film is also no longer available for purchase today..
Finally, the fourth production from 1985 is a full-length feature film. It’s titled The Thomas Cantor. Colin Nears directed it, and Brian Cox, Polly Hemingway, and Michael Gough starred in the lead roles. It’s worth noting that this was a West German production made during the era of the GDR (... DDR / Eastern Germany). And Bach lived his entire life in what are now the New Federal States. Unfortunately, the film is no longer available for purchase..
How could it be otherwise? There was a Bach film 5 released in the Bach Year 1985, . The Fifth Evangelist was a production exploring Bach’s faith. It was directed by Günther Specovius. The book of the same title is still available secondhand. Unfortunately, the film is no longer available either..
Finally, a production about Johann Sebastian Bach for children rounds out the Bach Year 1985. Bach and Broccoli is the charming and cool title of this Canadian production, directed by André Melançon and produced by Rock Demers. It’s a children’s comedy. How lovely..
The Bach Movie 1987..
Two years later, the film J.S. Bach was released. This was in the USA. So the first broadcast took place in 1987, and Juan Downey was the director. This production is also available only in English. It’s not entirely clear whether it’s still possible to buy it..
The Bach Movie 1988..
One year later, the next film about Bach was released. That was in 1988. It was a documentary titled Johann Sebastian Bach, directed by Hans Conrad Fischer. It runs for a full 120 minutes. This film is also no longer available for purchase..
The Bach Movie 1990..
The Stations of Bach. It is an American production, most likely from 1990. This film explores Bach’s life through visits to the Bach cities and Bach places. It runs 90 minutes, and you probably can’t buy it anymore..
Also in 1990, the film with the play on German words KultUhr was released. I couldn't find that film for you either..
The Bach Movie 1993..
A 1993 film has the charming title The Well-Tempered Bach. It’s no longer even available for purchase on Amazon..
In 1993, there was also a documentary film on the subject of Bach. It was titled The Use of Bach's Music in the Media. It's no longer available for purchase. I would have liked to have seen it..
After all, the 1993 film Play Bach about Jacques Loussier isn’t really a “Bach film” in the strict sense ... at least not in the context of this, my website page. But who wants to exclude it? Not me. So it stays on the list. Play Bach is still available, but as the release date shows, it’s purely about music ... not the film mentioned above..
The Bach Movie 1995..
In 1995, the film Bach's Fight for Freedom was released (hey guys, it's available in English). It was produced in the U.S. and runs 53 minutes. Stuart Gillard directed it. You can still purchase this film. Just like the previous ones: not from me. And not from my wife's Publishing House. Here is the link to the DVD..
Also in 1995, a documentary about Rilling was produced, and strictly speaking, it’s not really a Bach film. But… it’s allowed to be included here. Bach im Gepäck (... Bach in Your Baggage) is such a lovely title. For that reason alone, the film deserves to be included..
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The Bach Movie 1996..
Famous Composers – Johann Sebastian Bach was produced in 1996. It is unclear whether it was made in the U.S. or in another country. The director was Malcolm Hossick. The production is in English and runs only 35 minutes. You can watch it if you purchase it first. However, that option isn't available with me or at my wife's Bach Publishing House..
The Bach Movie 1997..
1997: The film Great Composers about Bach was released. It is a British production. There is no German version. But you can buy the film. As you know, not from me, not from my wife, but from Amazon..
The Bach Movie 2000..
Around the turn of the millennium – that is “specifically, roughly” in the year 2000 – the team of Jens Schere and Robert Gräf produced another German film. It is now available not only in German but also in English, Spanish, French, and even Japanese. A full 90 minutes of entertainment are on offer. And you can still buy the film today. Namely ... you know where ... on Amazon. Oh, and the title: Der junge Bach - Weil er nicht aufzuhalten ist (... The Young Bach - Because He's Unstoppable)..
2000 is the year of Bach films – or so it seems – but one title stands out completely from the rest. Its subject matter is also different. It deals with Bach’s handwritten manuscripts. The title is Of Originals, Enthusiasts, and Chiffon Silk. We owe this work to Cornelia Schönberg and Hanne Kaisik..
2000 is the Bach film year – so it seems – but one title is completely out of line. Also in terms of content, it is different, it is about Bach's handwriting. The title "From originals, lovers, and chiffonade". We owe this work to Cornelia Schönberg and Hanne Kaisik..
The fourth film project on the subject of Bach in the year 2000 is The Pilgrimage to Bach. Sir Elliot Gardiner, former president of the Bach Archive in Leipzig, went on a world tour. Manfred Waffender created this remarkable opus..
The fifth and final film about Bach released in 2000 is Johann Sebastian Bach: Life and Work – A Genius for All Time. It was produced by Heidrun Sünderhauf. You can buy it on Amazon here..
The Bach Movie 2001..
The first film about Johann Sebastian Bach released in the third millennium is titled Johann Sebastian Bach – Life and Work and dates from 2001. It is a DVD video chronicling the life stages of Bach. Published by Klaus-Jürgen Kamprad Verlag..
The Bach Movie 2003..
Mein Name ist Bach (... My Name Is Bach) is the title of a 2003 production. It is a French/German/Swiss co-production. The film was released in theaters in 2004. A DVD version wasn’t released until 2006. Vadim Glowna played Johann Sebastian Bach, Jürgen Vogel played the Prussian king, and we probably don’t know the others anyway. Dominique de Rivaz directed the film, and the movie and DVD versions differ in length: the film is 97 minutes long, while the DVD is 94 minutes. It features Bach’s music in surround sound, and of course, such a recent release is still available for purchase. Let me mention again: not from me, not from my wife. If you’d like to buy it, you can do so with a single click here..
Glory to God Alone is the title of the second film released in 2003. It is a U.S. production. It is a fairly short film, only 43 minutes long, and this documentary is, of course, still available for purchase. However, you can also watch the full 43-minute version on Vimeo. Click here to watch it..
The Bach Movie 2004..
In 2004, the film JSB – The Dear Lord of Music was also released. It is a TV movie. It's a mix of documentary, authenticity and a touch of fiction. You can find a bit more information here. You can buy it on Amazon..
So, What Now ... No New Bach Movie Within Almost 15 Years?..
Could it be that I’ve actually forgotten a Bach film from the past 100 years, and you know of it? Or is there a new one from 2004 or later, or even a Russian, Indian, or Somali production? If so, please send me an email: Here’s the link to my contact form. I’d especially love to add it here. It would then be – for me– “the ultimate Bach film.”..
Bach fan Paul wrote to me after reading my “Bach Film Page” regarding this very section: “So … no new Bach film in nearly 15 years?” Thanks to his expertise, I was able to feature another Bach film here: It is the following one. Thank you, Paul, for visiting my website, for your efforts, and for your email..
The Bach Movie 2008 / 2011..
Paul wrote:..
“It is the work Sul Nome B.a.c.h. - Contrappunti Con L’arte Della Fuga by Francesco Leprini, released on two DVDs. The first DVD is – in my opinion – a relatively unconventional journey through Bach’s life in 20 stages. It takes us to the places where Bach lived and worked. Musically, it features Bach’s magnificent Art of Fugue in many extraordinary (... and in some cases “quirky”) interpretations and instrumentations..
The fugues are not performed in the documentary. Fortunately, there is a second DVD in which 21 fugues are performed. And there is a piano improvisation titled Postludio..
The total runtime is 280 minutes for a production from 2008 / 2011 (… currently in Italian with English subtitles. German subtitles are expected to follow ... hopefully). Unfortunately, no further details are available..
For me, that was an exciting discovery years ago. And as for the documentary – with its playful elements and various statements – it’s no longer available to watch or listen to on YouTube either..
That’s all for now. Best regards,
Paul“..
Bach in Brazil ... But Wait a Minute ... What Exactly Is “Bach in Brazil”? The 2016 Bach Film?..
Bach in Brazil. Is this one of the Bach films in the sense of the question at the very top? At the very least, it’s almost the most recent of all the Bach films. But it’s not a film about Bach. Yet it’s more than just one of the Bach films in the sense of FAQ 108 … that is, a film featuring Bach’s music. Because if you click on the trailer spontaneously, you’ll hear “Bach’s music to your heart’s content.” And truly unique..
It's likeable film, this outsider among movies related to Bach. A “feel-good comedy.” The film hit theaters in 2016. And it's now available on DVD. On Amazon, for example. By the way, the link at the very top of the previous section takes you to the official website for “Bach in Brazil.” The theme:..
A former music teacher inherits handwritten Bach sheet music. But he personally has to travel to Brazil to pick it up. The trailer alone is enough to pique your interest, as familiar melodies are given a South American twist. By the way, you can find more about the film here. So the journey takes us from Bückeburg to Ouro Preto. Welt24 calls it a postcolonial fairy tale. Ansgar Ahlers produced this declaration of love to Bach, and Edgar Selge, Aldri Anunciação, and Franziska Walser played the leading roles. Here’s a synopsis from Filmstarts.de. The Süddeutsche Zeitung and the Hessische Niedersächsische Allgemeine also reported on the German film..
Conclusion: Those who love Bach plus Samba ... and who want to have 92 minutes of fun, here is – as a bonus – our joint recommendation. So ... start learning German, next order the DVD, next enjoy ... Bach in Brazil..
The Bach Movie 2024..
Bach - A Christmas Miracle (... Bach - Ein Weihnachtswunder) is the title of this fascinating film about Bach, produced roughly eight years after the last one. It focuses on the very brief period in Bach’s life during which the Christmas Oratorio was composed. The reviews on Wikipedia are quite fascinating. They offer excellent information for true Bach connoisseurs: for fans of Bach’s music who don’t get hung up on absolute historical accuracy, but are simply happy with outstanding entertainment. At least there are no major “blunders,” and 99 percent of Bach’s time back then is well reflected. The film is truly a great success. Unlike some other Bach films listed above, it is absolutely worth watching. It's a pity, it's only in German. You can buy it here..
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