The Seventh Bullet Strikes – Carl Maria von Weber

Carl Maria von Weber’s Der Freischütz made him a national icon. 200 years after his death, the musician's life and legacy are told in seven chapters.

Carl Maria von Weber’s Der Freischütz became his most famous work and the quintessential German national opera. It’s said that people sang its arias and choral passages in the streets — and rumor has it that even dogs howled along to them. Weber became the embodiment and unifying symbol of an entire cultural nation, with the forest as the musical soulscape of the German people: both enchanting and demonic. But Der Freischütz quickly gained fame far beyond German borders, reaching audiences all around the world. Other works by Weber are still performed regularly, though some are now considered more of a “rarity.”

What is the secret behind Weber’s success, and what kind of person was he? On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Carl Maria von Weber’s death, his life and work are explored in seven chapters — with seven magic bullets, as referenced in Der Freischütz.

Through its visual and narrative concept, the film seeks to create the greatest possible closeness to Carl Maria von Weber — to see and understand him in all his rich facets, both in life and in his work. A direct form of address and a dialogic approach on both visual and narrative levels help engage viewers personally and immediately. The commentary avoids a distanced tone. Instead, it uses emotionally engaging language to tell many curious and entertaining stories from Weber’s life. In addition, his own writings and his music offer a gateway to this composer — one who may seem distant through the passage of time, yet whose music continues to move listeners to this day.