It is 1824. Ludwig van Beethoven is racing to finish his new symphony. However, it has been years since his last success and he is plagued by deafness, loneliness and personal trauma. He urgently needs a copyist to help him finish in time for the scheduled first performance--otherwise the orchestra will have no music to play. An insightful young conservatory student and aspiring composer Anna Holtz is recommended for the position. The mercurial Beethoven is skeptical that a woman might become involved in his masterpiece, but he slowly comes to trust in Anna's assistance and in the end becomes quite fond of her. By the time the piece is performed--a moment in history captured in an exquisitely moving shot from Anna's perspective, as she sits on the orchestra floor helping the deaf Beethoven to keep time--her presence in his life is an absolute necessity. Her deep understanding of his work is such that she even corrects mistakes he has made, while her passionate personality opens a door into his proud, private world.