Music of the Heart (1999)

Director:

Wes Craven

Writer (WGA):

Pamela Gray (written by)

Release Date:

29 October 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

She gave them a gift they could never imagine. They gave the system a fight it would never forget.

Plot:

Story of a schoolteacher's struggle to teach violin to inner-city Harlem kids.

Plot Keywords:

Violin | School | Teacher | Music Teacher | Harlem New York City

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Roberta Guaspari
Cloris Leachman	...	Assunta Guaspari
Henry Dinhofer	...	Lexi at 5
Michael Angarano	...	Nick at 7
Robert Ari	...	Supervisor
Aidan Quinn	...	Brian Turner
Teddy Coluca	...	Taxi Driver
Angela Bassett	...	Principal Janet Williams
Josh Pais	...	Dennis Rausch
Barbara Gonzalez	...	Janet's Secretary
Jade Yorker	...	DeSean at 11
Victoria Gómez	...	Lucy at 10 (as Victoria Gomez)
Justin Pierre Edmund	...	Bongo Kid
Justin 'DJ' Spaulding	...	Naeem Adisa at 9 (as Justin Spaulding)
Zoe Sternbach-Taubman	...	Guadalupe at 9

Also Known As:

50 Violins (USA) (working title)
Fiddlefest (USA) (working title)
Music of My Heart (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for brief mild language and sensuality.

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | Taiwan:GP | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:I | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Craven-Maddalena Films

Trivia:

Director Wes Craven's first non-horror/thriller film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Roberta speaks with Brian in her bedroom, she has curlers in her hair. In the next shot, they are gone.

Quotes:

Roberta Guaspari: This beautiful concert that you've just heard could be the very last concert for the East Harlem Violin Program. The board of education and the district attorney think that music isn't important. But they are wrong! And they're gonna get a *big* fight!
[thunderous applause]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Directors: The Films of Wes Craven (#1.4)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Con Sandunga

an inspirational film that will touch everyone

"Music Of The Heart" is an awe-inspiring film that contains outstanding performances from every single actor and actress in the film. From Meryl Streep to Angela Bassett and Aidan Quinn to Gloria Estefan as well as the extras, the actors made "Music Of The Heart" a wonderful film.

Meryl Streep is exceptional in the role of the true life violin teacher who deserves most of the credit for this superbly performed film. The way that Along with Angela Bassett, Gloria Estefan and Aidan Quinn, "Music Of The Heart" is a success.

I particularly enjoyed the scene in which her former students came into the classroom to inspire her current students to doing their best in their concert. However, the best part of the whole film was at Carnegie Hall when the children performed in front of their parents and alongside world renownd violinists such as Itzhak Perlman.

Finally, Hollywood has recognized an excellent true story and brought it to the silver screen. I cannot begin to tell everyone what a movie this was to watch. I can't begin to tell everyone that the performances brought out every positive emotion.

Along the same lines as "Mr Holland's Opus," "Music Of The Heart" follows the life of violin teacher, Roberta Gaspiaurdi from the inception of the music program she created.

"Music Of The Heart" is a film that touched my heart and inspired me into really looking inside myself and want to do charity for others. I highly recommend this movie to everyone because it will move, touch, and inspire.