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IMDbPro

Music of the Heart

  • 19991999
  • PGPG
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
13K
YOUR RATING
Angela Bassett, Meryl Streep, and Gloria Estefan in Music of the Heart (1999)
DramaMusic
Story of a schoolteacher's struggle to teach violin to inner-city Harlem kids.Story of a schoolteacher's struggle to teach violin to inner-city Harlem kids.Story of a schoolteacher's struggle to teach violin to inner-city Harlem kids.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
13K
YOUR RATING
    • Wes Craven
    • Pamela Gray
  • Stars
    • Meryl Streep
    • Cloris Leachman
    • Henry Dinhofer
    • Wes Craven
    • Pamela Gray
  • Stars
    • Meryl Streep
    • Cloris Leachman
    • Henry Dinhofer
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 133User reviews
    • 58Critic reviews
    • 54Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars

    Photos30

    Roberta & Isabel in the classroom
    Roberta & son
    Meryl Streep stars as Roberta Guaspari
    Meryl Streep stars as Roberta Guaspari
    Roberta instructs a boy in playing the violin
    Angela Bassett, Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, and Gloria Estefan in Music of the Heart (1999)
    Meryl Streep in Music of the Heart (1999)
    Angela Bassett, Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, and Gloria Estefan in Music of the Heart (1999)
    Angela Bassett, Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, and Gloria Estefan in Music of the Heart (1999)
    Angela Bassett, Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, and Gloria Estefan in Music of the Heart (1999)
    Angela Bassett, Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, and Gloria Estefan in Music of the Heart (1999)
    Angela Bassett, Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, and Gloria Estefan in Music of the Heart (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Meryl Streep
    Meryl Streep
    • Roberta
    Cloris Leachman
    Cloris Leachman
    • Assunta
    Henry Dinhofer
    • Lexi at 5
    Michael Angarano
    Michael Angarano
    • Nick at 7
    Robert Ari
    • Supervisor
    Aidan Quinn
    Aidan Quinn
    • Brian
    Teddy Coluca
    Teddy Coluca
    • Taxi Driver
    Angela Bassett
    Angela Bassett
    • Janet
    Josh Pais
    Josh Pais
    • Dennis
    Barbara Gonzalez
    • Janet's Secretary
    Jade Scott Yorker
    Jade Scott Yorker
    • DeSean at 11
    • (as Jade Yorker)
    Victoria Gómez
    • Lucy at 10
    • (as Victoria Gomez)
    Justin Pierre Edmund
    Justin Pierre Edmund
    • Bongo Kid
    Justin 'DJ' Spaulding
    • Naeem at 9
    • (as Justin Spaulding)
    Zoe Sternbach-Taubman
    • Guadalupe at 9
    Christopher Lopez
    • Adam
    Ruben Jared Seraballs
    • James
    Lucy Nonas-Barnes
    • Becky
      • Wes Craven
      • Pamela Gray
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Immediately following a phenomenally successful preview screening of the original Scream (1996), Bob and Harvey Weinstein offered Wes Craven a three picture deal, two of which were to be horror films, the last of which was to be "a petticoat film" (i.e. a costume drama for which the Weinsteins were known at the time) which Craven, a fan of classical music, chose to be this film.
    • Goofs
      At the end of Roberta's first week of teaching, Brian visits her apartment to celebrate. When he enters the room, Roberta has just finished putting three large curlers in her hair on the left side. They disappear after the two of them kiss.
    • Quotes

      Roberta Guaspari: [entering Dorothea's house after a stressful rehearsal for a huge concert] Oh, I can't believe I *ever* agreed to do this! You should hear the Bach double. Ha-ha-ha! It's a *complete* disaster!

      Dorothea von Haeften: Good morning...

      Roberta Guaspari: Good morning. Well, the good news is the tickets are selling like hotcakes. The bad news is, the kids sound like shit...

      Dorothea von Haeften: There's more bad news. We've lost the Y.

    • Crazy credits
      Please support arts and music education.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Double Jeopardy/Jakob the Liar/Mumford (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Turn the Page
      Performed by Aaliyah

      Written by Guy Roche and Shelly Peiken

      Produced and arranged by Guy Roche

      Mixed by Mick Guzauski

      Arranged, orchestrated & conducted by David Campbell (uncredited)

      Aaliyah appears courtesy of Blackground Entertainment, Inc.

      By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

    User reviews133

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    A wonderful, wonderful movie for any music-lover, or just those who like inspiring real stories.
    Even though I had been wanting to see "Music of the Heart" for a while now, and I expected to like it, I didn't expect it to be one of my favorites of all time. Which it now is. As of August 2021 I have watched it three times on DVD. Plus the extra disc which is a 77 minute documentary of the real teacher and culminating with the actual Carnegie Hall performance.

    Meryl Streep, in the lead role, is nothing short of fantastic. She studied violin virtually every day, for 2 to 4 hours a day, for 3 months because she insisted on doing all her on-screen playing. She was so good that duing warm-up for the Carnegie Hall scene, famous violinists Issac Stern and Itzhak Perlman stood/sat in amazement at how good she was. Watching the movie, I honestly became unaware that she was an "actress" in a movie, and that seldom happens with me.

    The most enjoyable scenes were those showing young children make music. I am a musician, and the Carnegie Hall performance, kids sharing music stands with all those real-world virtuoso violinists, is one of the most moving scenes imaginable, when you consider what had transpired leading up to it.

    This movie is based on the real story of a real music teacher in Harlem. It is a wonderful story of how one person through love and persistence can affect so many in such a positive way. This movie, unlike most, will stay with me for a long, long time.
    helpful•29
    4
    • TxMike
    • Aug 4, 2000

    FAQ1

    • Did Meryl Streep actually play the violin in the movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 29, 1999 (United States)
      • United States
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Craven-Maddalena Films
      • Miramax
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 4 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
      • SDDS

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    Angela Bassett, Meryl Streep, and Gloria Estefan in Music of the Heart (1999)
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