Beautiful, heart-warming documentary of music a teacher in New York who develops a violin program for young children. Simple style allows for wonderful story to be told without unnecessary frills or effects. Great cameos by Yitzhak Pearlman and Isaac Stern. Superb grand-finally at Carnegie Hall. Nominated for Best Documentary in 1995.
5 Reviews
You'll Never Hear "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" the Same Way Again
NoDakTatum10 October 2023
An inspiring documentary that spawned an Academy Award nominated feature film, "Small Wonders" deftly avoids many expected cliches. Roberta Guaspari is a music teacher who serves three different elementary schools in New York City. Because of budget cuts, her violin program is on the chopping block, but a benefit concert is being held at Carnegie Hall, and the film makers follow Roberta around as she readies her sometimes unruly kids for the big night.
Director Miller's camera is unintrusive, and the talking heads are kept to a minimum. I did think Guaspari would be a pie-eyed teacher spending the film talking about the magical innocence of children, but she is tough with her students. They seem to respond, using the discipline of learning the violin to improve other areas of their lives. The film makers follow one student, Jose, and his family, but she calls him out on his errors just as often as she does the other children. One scene has her kicking a student out for forgetting her violin on practice day, and not missing a beat keeping the other kids in line. The highlight of the film is the Fiddlefest concert, and a jaw dropping segment featuring over a dozen famous violinists paired with some of Roberta's students. The sequence is pretty amazing, whether you are familiar with classical music or not. Technically, the film is average. Shot on video, it looks older than it is. I would be interested in seeing an update about some of the kids we meet, and Roberta herself. This film was nominated for a Best Documentary Oscar, and spawned "Music of the Heart" starring Meryl Streep as Roberta. That film also garnered Oscar nods. "Small Wonders" is a small film with a big voice. Some of the hippie-dippie staff and teachers at the alternative schools are funny, but Roberta plugs along, teaching her way. This film is a must for educators everywhere, and happens to entertain the rest of us as well.
Director Miller's camera is unintrusive, and the talking heads are kept to a minimum. I did think Guaspari would be a pie-eyed teacher spending the film talking about the magical innocence of children, but she is tough with her students. They seem to respond, using the discipline of learning the violin to improve other areas of their lives. The film makers follow one student, Jose, and his family, but she calls him out on his errors just as often as she does the other children. One scene has her kicking a student out for forgetting her violin on practice day, and not missing a beat keeping the other kids in line. The highlight of the film is the Fiddlefest concert, and a jaw dropping segment featuring over a dozen famous violinists paired with some of Roberta's students. The sequence is pretty amazing, whether you are familiar with classical music or not. Technically, the film is average. Shot on video, it looks older than it is. I would be interested in seeing an update about some of the kids we meet, and Roberta herself. This film was nominated for a Best Documentary Oscar, and spawned "Music of the Heart" starring Meryl Streep as Roberta. That film also garnered Oscar nods. "Small Wonders" is a small film with a big voice. Some of the hippie-dippie staff and teachers at the alternative schools are funny, but Roberta plugs along, teaching her way. This film is a must for educators everywhere, and happens to entertain the rest of us as well.
Preferred this to the movie Music From the Heart
emuir-129 September 2012
I saw the documentary some years ago and absolutely loved it. I therefore looked forward to seeing the film, and while enjoyable, it just did not have the impact of the documentary. Small wonders seemed immediate and real life. Music From the Heart by contrast followed the predictable path of sentimentality with a couple of unnecessary romances thrown in as an afterthought, like sugar in a coffee. You know that one or two children are going to have problems at home and need to leave the program. You know that they lose the original venue after tickets have been sold, until SHAZAM someone comes to the rescue with Carnegie Hall. Small Wonders kept the sentimental goo out of the mix and showed it like it was, and Roberta Guaspari was a demanding tyrant, jus1 like the teachers who got the best out of me when I was at school.
I would like to see a 'where are they mow?' follow up of the children.
I would like to see a 'where are they mow?' follow up of the children.
Truly amazing story of NYC kids learning violin.
TxMike19 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
The DVD for this documentary was included in my purchase of the DVD of the movie, "Music of the Heart" starring Meryl Streep. Violinists have always been part of my life, my dad was a violin maker and a Cajun fiddler in S. Louisiana back in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.
Roberta Guaspari is the teacher who made all this possible when she needed a job and had 50 violins. In spite of resistance from both the school and some of the parents, and to much doubt that these kids could be interested, she established the inner city program in a tough area of Harlem. As they say, 'the rest is history.'
Near the end of the Streep movie is re-created the benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. This documentary has the actual footage of the real concert. As a musician myself, and having played since I was about 10, I can hardly imagine the poise of these small school children, standing next to great violinists like Arnold Steinhard, Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, and other great violinists as they played the concert. Every time I watch it I get a lump in my throat. It is perhaps the best demonstration of the idea that there is no limit to what kids can accomplish if they don't know limitations.
Roberta Guaspari is the teacher who made all this possible when she needed a job and had 50 violins. In spite of resistance from both the school and some of the parents, and to much doubt that these kids could be interested, she established the inner city program in a tough area of Harlem. As they say, 'the rest is history.'
Near the end of the Streep movie is re-created the benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. This documentary has the actual footage of the real concert. As a musician myself, and having played since I was about 10, I can hardly imagine the poise of these small school children, standing next to great violinists like Arnold Steinhard, Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, and other great violinists as they played the concert. Every time I watch it I get a lump in my throat. It is perhaps the best demonstration of the idea that there is no limit to what kids can accomplish if they don't know limitations.
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