Music of the Heart is basically two stories. The first story is about how Roberta Guaspari, desperate for work after the sudden departure of her husband and with two children to support, came to a school in East Harlem to teach the violin. At first, the students, fellow teachers, and principal are skeptical, but Guaspari manages to win all of the above over. The second story is about how Guaspari, after ten years of success and the spread of the violin program to two further schools, fights back when told that the program is a victim of budget cuts.
Meryl Streep is wonderful as Guaspari, managing to portray her vulnerability and strength simultaneously. Angela Bassett is strong as the sometimes exasperated principal, and Josh Pais makes an amusing villain as the corpse-like tenured music teacher who resents Streep's presence and ultimate success.
It would have been easy for Music of the Heart to degenerate into schmaltz, corn, and cheese. In the hands of lesser mortals, it surely would have. It's a tribute to the sure-handed acting of Meryl Streep and the subtle direction of Wes Craven (now there's a word I never thought I would associate with Craven) that the movie never puts a foot wrong, and that the true story of Roberta Guaspari never feels less than authentic. I shudder to think what would have happened if Madonna had played the part, as was the plan at one point.
The script for Music of the Heart manages to hit the right notes while not necessarily going where you think it will. One or two subplots have unexpected resolutions, and this makes the film feel all the more real.
Naturally, Music of the Heart has a message at its heart, a message about the importance of arts education in the schools. But it manages to convey the message without seeming didactic. Ultimately, the film is by turns moving, touching, and inspirational without ever overdoing it. I've found myself thinking about the movie two and three days after seeing it; it's one that stays with you.
Based on the Academy Award-nominated documentary Small Wonders, Music Of The Heart recounts the true story of Roberta Guaspari (Meryl Streep), a teach...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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