MUSIC OF THE HEART
US, 1999, 126 minutes, Colour.
Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, Angela Bassett, Gloria Estefan, Cloris Leachman, Jay O. Sanders, Isaac Stern.
Directed by Wes Craven.
Music of the Heart was originally to be called Fifty Violins. It could also, literally, be called Heart Strings. It is a very emotional film, very sentimental in its presentation and could be accused by sterner audiences of emotional manipulation. However, it is a very nice film, focuses on education and the arts, fights for a good cause and is based on a true story. Roberta Guaspari was the subject of a 1996 Oscar-nominated work in East Harlem with a music program, its being axed by the authorities and the holding of a concert in Carnegie Hall in 1993 with the backing of such musicians as Isaac Stern (all of whom appear again as themselves in the final concert).
Meryl Streep again excels as Roberta, an insecure woman who finds a great inner strength and a sense of vocation despite some irascibility. She has been abandoned by her naval husband after moving around the world with him and bringing up two boys. Meryl Streep had never played an instrument and also had to learn the violin - which she does with the skill and panache that she brings to her various accents.
The film was directed by Wes Craven in what seems an extraordinary departure from his 25 years of making of horror films including Nightmare on Elm Street, Wes Craven's New Nightmare and the Scream films. (The film seems to indicate that the creator of Freddie Kruger has a very soft heart - and was formerly a teacher before making films.)
The film is very similar in plot to Steven Herek's 1995 Mister Holland's Opus. There is plenty of music to enjoy, especially a Bach concerto in D Minor for the final performance.
1.The tradition of American films about teachers, teachers of music? A high-minded cause, the promotion of the arts? The emotional appeal of this kind of film?
2.The departure for Wes Craven - the contrast with his 25 years of horror films?
3.The title and its tone - the final song (sung by Gloria Estefan): 'Heart Strings'?
4.Audience familiarity with this kind of plot, their expectations and hopes about each of the characters and plot developments - and their happening exactly as the audience would hope?
5.The film based on a true story, newspaper and magazine articles and an Oscar-nominated short feature? The impact of Roberta Guaspari and her story? The truth about her music program in East Harlem, the concert at Carnegie Hall and the artists performing?
6.The film focusing on Roberta: audiences identifying with her, the credits and the sweetness of her marriage and children, the opening song, the photo album? The shift to reality, the navy wife and the moves, her husband abandoning her for a friend, her bringing up the children, going to live with her mother, trying to find a new life, to get a job? The chance encounter with Brian at the shop and his leading her to Janet and the opportunity for a vocation in life: seize the day?
7.The interview with Janet and her refusal, Roberta's lack of qualifications? Her bright idea of bringing her boys and getting them to demonstrate the violin? Being a supplementary teacher, Dennis's hostility, Janet's support? Her drive to the inner city and her reaction to Harlem and New York City, the kids on the streets, the squalor? Yet her decision to make her home there, moving from Brian's apartment, building the house - but not being good as the co-ordinator of the building and her having to sack everyone - and Brian. Her giving of her life to her sons and to the students of East Harlem?
8.Her severe tone, treatment of the children (and the parents' complaints) - and the kids wanting her to be stern? Her ability as a teacher, informing them about violins, testing them, practice, feeding their ambitions, a sense of pride, developing their skills, joy in music - for the children and their parents?
9.The background with Charles, the divorce, his ringing up and abandoning her? Seeing the boys off for a holiday with him? A relationship with her mother, being like her mother in strong-minded statements of principles and criticism - and her reaction to her mother?
10.The pleasant encounter with Brian, their memories of school, his leading her to Janet? Offering her the apartment, the relationship, the night together? The surprise of his going to Texas to research his books? His return, Christmas, Central Park, a role model and substitute father for the boys? Roberta confronting him and his inability to answer her questions about commitment? Her firing him after his criticism of her house and his inability to commit? His coming back for the concert and a happy reuniting?
11.The range of children, their age, attitudes and behaviour in class (and the return of the earlier students to play in the concert)? Each class and the racial backgrounds, poverty backgrounds, boys killed in drive-by shootings, mothers with prejudice against white teachers? Roberta and her inability to cope at first, Janet making a stand on her own feet? The support of some of the teachers - especially Isabel? The children themselves and their practice, seeing them at home, the difficulties and yet their success?
12.Her own sons and their anger at her, their anger at their father leaving, wanting Brian as a substitute father? Her pledge to look after them?
13.The passing of ten years, her achievement? So many students in the program? The lotteries for the children to be students and the excitement of the lottery drawing?
14.Her own boys growing up, piano and cello? Their love for their mother? Putting the ad in the magazine, the letters for the dating? Her reaction? Going out with Dan - enjoying it, the irony of his losing the bet and her telling the truth abut the boys? Her later reliance on him for support from the New York Times? His presence with the journalist at the family meeting, at the concert?
15.Dorothy and the photo stories and the support? Her being married to the violinist? Her getting Carnegie Hall?
16.The axing of the program, the children's reaction, the confrontation with Janet and Dennis? Arranging the meeting at home, Janet's help with the food? Dan and the articles?
17.The decision to have the concert and raise the money? The advertisements, the practice and the demands that Roberta made? The older students coming back? The hall flooding? Dorothy and the good news and Carnegie Hall?
18.Roberta coming on the stage at Carnegie Hall - fulfilment of ambitions which had been frustrated as a child and as a mother and wife? The discussions with Isaac Stern and his support?
19.The fuss before the concert, setting up of atmosphere, the people - and the focusing on teachers and their response, parents and their pride? Janet's speech?
20.The concert and its impact, the children playing, Roberta's leadership, the Nashville violinist, the classical violinists, the Bach performance?
21.The aftermath and the glimpse of Roberta continuing to teach - and the information given about the program?
22.The delineation of the supporting characters - and their being what the audience expected: Janet as the tough administrator, Dennis as the jealous teacher, Isabel as the friendly teacher, the collaborative parents, the critical parents, the children themselves?
23.A film about achievement and ambitions - the necessary kind of morale-building for society today?
