SONG FROM THE HEART
US, 1999, 95 minutes, Colour.
Amy Grant, D.W. Moffat, Keith Carradine.
Directed by Marcus Cole.
Song from the Heart is a star vehicle for Amy Grant, former gospel singer. She acquits herself well as a blind musician in this film - memories of Magnificent Obsession. She then has the opportunity to have a corneal graft and by the end of the film she is able to see again.
She portrays a woman injured in a car accident when she was eight, when her parents were killed. Reluctant to go in cars, trying to be self-sufficient, with a gift for teaching music to students, she is offered the opportunity to move out into a wider world. However, she finds her strength and her comfort in the widower neighbour, played by Keith Carradine, and his daughter. D.W. Moffat portrays the musician who clashes with her initially. When she saves his life and transforms his music, he is able to urge her to have the operation.
This is a film for tears, but the performances and the general "niceness" of the film give it more strength than might be expected.
1. A pleasing vehicle for Amy Grant fans? Entertaining for those who do not know her?
2. The city settings, the music school, homes, apartments, concert halls? The world of music?
3. The musical score, the performances of Mozart and other classics? The more contemporary music, the adaptation of the rhythms by Mary Anne, the performances by Gregory, by the school orchestra? The recording sequence? The final concert? The title and the entertaining music?
4. The prologue, Mary Anne and her parents, the gift of the chain, the joyful family, the tragedy of the crash? Her losing her sight? Her memories of this before the operation?
5. Mary Anne as an adult, her ability as a teacher, getting the orchestra to take its shoes off? Her ability to hear and to understand and know what was going on, the people around her and their moods and expressions? Teacher Tina the cello? Her own cello-playing? Her friendship with Oliver, best friends? The head of the school, the prospect of the recording with Gregory? His late arrival, her being put out, his reactions, careless attitude, her answers? Her antagonism towards him? Her changing the rhythms, his appreciation? With the limousine, her not wanting to get into the car, into the taxi? Her saving him from being hit by the bus? The response in his later saving her and giving her new sight? The performances, the rehearsals, getting to know him better? Being comfortable with him? Falling in love? The party, the dancing? Her friendship with Oliver? Gregory and his pressures about the operation, her finally conceding, overcoming her fears, going in the car, the recording the day before the operation, his promise that he would be there, not fulfilling it? The operation, the bandages coming off, her seeing Oliver? The performance, her telling Gregory the truth, her indebtedness to him, her inability to live his life on the road, visiting Europe? Her staying at home, her love for Tina, appreciation of Oliver, a future with the family? A rounded portrait of Mary Anne, her gifts, her tragedy with her sight, her new life?
6. Gregory, his migrant background, self-sacrificing parents, his achievement, fame, awards? His believing his own publicity? His relationship with his manager, her pushing him forward? The head of the record company, wanting him to find new life and zest? The head of the school, his late arrival, careless attitudes, criticism of the students? Having to start again with Mary Anne, her changing the rhythms, the rehearsals, shoes off? His attraction towards her, the limousine, the taxi, her not following up? His shrewdness in knowing that she was afraid of cars? Together, meals, shared experiences? Tina's birthday party? His persuading Mary Anne to have the operation? The concert tour, his missing the plane, meeting her after a month, the performance, composing music for her? His having to live with the separation?
7. Oliver and Tina, the background of Oliver's marriage, helping his wife in her cancer struggle, the truth about wanting a divorce? His love for his daughter, his work? Mary Anne's best friend, listening to her, supporting her? His daughter's party, the boy from school, dancing? The invitation to the recording? His inability to go? His love for Mary Anne, being there for the operation, when she opened her eyes? His discussions with his daughter? A future?
8. The students, their giftedness with music, the shoes-off rehearsals, the smart comments? The achievement for the recording? The final concert?
9. A popular kind of tearjerker, strengthened by the performances, Amy Grant's ability, Keith Carradine's quietness in the background? Sentiment - but avoiding too much sentimentality?
