Music of the Heart Movie Review 1999

Based on the true story of violin teacher Roberta Guaspari, who was also the subject of the 1996 documentary, "Small Wonders." A divorced Guaspari (Streep) leaves suburbia with her two young sons and a dream to teach music to children, using the 50 violins she had purchased. Roberta finds herself working with a group of Harlem students on what will become the landmark East Harlem Violin Program. Despite numerous obstacles, their determination eventually leads to a performance at Carnegie Hall. Streep gives her usual professionally winning performance in this sentimental heart-tugger.

Distribution

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-1120, Toll-free: 800-723-4763, URL: http://www.bvhe.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 124 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Dedicated Teachers, New York, New York, School Daze, Single Parents, True Stories, Elementary School/Junior High

Screenplay

Pamela Gray

Cast

Meryl Streep, Angela Bassett, Aidan Quinn, Gloria Estefan, Cloris Leachman, Kieran Culkin, Charlie Hofheimer, Jay O. Sanders, Josh Pais

Cinematography

Peter Deming

Director

Wes Craven

Music

Mason Daring

Producer

Marianne Maddalena, Susan Kaplan, Alan Miller, Walter Scheuer, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Sandy Gallin, Miramax Films