Salt Spring Film Festival Presents: Beethoven's Nine: Ode to Humanity Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 7:30 PM PST

You don’t have to love classical music to fall in love with this uplifting and profoundly moving film about Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.

Inspired by the ideals of the Enlightenment, Beethoven’s timeless Ninth Symphony was the first in history to be accompanied by words - words about love & freedom, hope & peace - written both as a love letter to humankind and as a powerful piece of protest music.

Canadian filmmaker Larry Weinstein travels around the world and delves into the deeply personal to explore the question: How far have we come in the past 200 years since Beethoven wrote his Ninth Symphony? Are we finally worthy of the hopes & dreams of this highly evolved and thoroughly modern artist?

If the horrific wars raging in Ukraine & the Middle East have you questioning why as a species we seem so intent on destroying one another, this timely reminder of our shared humanity will leave you incandescent with hope for the future. Perhaps only music and art can save us from ourselves.