"Songcatcher" is a fictional film that was based on the work of several researchers who studied and chronicled the music of Appalachia in the early 20th century. Professor Lily Penleric (Janet McTeer) has come to spend time with her sister, Eleanor. And, when the Professor hears some of the local ballads, she realizes they are treasures...variations on old songs from England and thereabouts that were thought to be lost. So she spends much of the rest of the film gaining the trust of the locals as well as recording and writing down their songs for posterity as well as let outside folks know that there is great beauty and wisdom in the hills. This is complicated by Eleanor and her female lover...something many of the locals would not understand nor appreciate. How this ends up impacting the Professor's work is something you'll have to see...as well her relationship with a handsome local man (Aidan Quinn). And, the picture has a very interesting and unique view of early American feminism.
"Songcatcher" is an incredibly lovely film. The director really managed to convey a great sense of beauty throughout the movie. My only complaint, and it's really NOT a problem with the film itself is that some of the singing is quite beautiful...and some almost made my ears bleed.
By the way, I particularly liked seeing Pat Carroll in the film--she was excellent and she hasn't done a lot of film work in recent years (she's the voice of Ursula from "The Little Mermaid" by the way). Well worth seeing but NOT the sort of picture the average person would watch in the first place, though it does give you a deeper appreciation for the people of this part of America.
"Songcatcher" is an incredibly lovely film. The director really managed to convey a great sense of beauty throughout the movie. My only complaint, and it's really NOT a problem with the film itself is that some of the singing is quite beautiful...and some almost made my ears bleed.
By the way, I particularly liked seeing Pat Carroll in the film--she was excellent and she hasn't done a lot of film work in recent years (she's the voice of Ursula from "The Little Mermaid" by the way). Well worth seeing but NOT the sort of picture the average person would watch in the first place, though it does give you a deeper appreciation for the people of this part of America.