The extraordinary life of Sergiu Celibidache. From his childhood in Romania, to his exile in pursuit of a career in music, his struggle for survival in wartime Germany and his rise, fall and rise again, in an unimaginable life journey.
This biopic honours a towering figure in music, Romanian conductor and composer Sergiu Celibidache (Ben Schnetzer). The story moves back and forth in time, beginning in in post-WWI Romania in the years, where he grew up in a prosperous family. A young Sergiu was already drawn to composing music when he parted ways with his family, first playing piano in clubs and ballet classes in Bucharest, and eventually moving to Berlin to study composition. This was the 1930s, the Nazi grip was tightening, and Romanians were considered “gypsies” and undesired. Despite this, at the end of the war he earned the position of principal conductor of the prestigious Berlin Philharmonic, where he excelled. Directed by the composer’s son Serge, and featuring John Malkovich as the older Celibidache. (In English with some subtitles)
Romania 2025 Serge Ioan Celebida 145m
