loading loading...

Songcatcher Details

2000 Certificate TBC
  • Rated:
  • 50
  • from 5 members

Lily Penleric (McTeer), a respected musicologist who is once again passed over for a tenured position at her school. She leaves at the summer break to visit her sister, whilst here she maes an important discovery. Read more

Starring Janet McTeer, Michael Davis, Michael Goodwin, Greg Russell Cook
Director Maggie Greenwald
Genres Drama

loading loading...

Songcatcher

Lily Penleric (McTeer), a respected musicologist who is once again passed over for a tenured position at her school. She leaves at the summer break to visit her sister, whilst here she maes an important discovery.

Starring Janet McTeer, Michael Davis, Michael Goodwin, Greg Russell Cook, Jane Adams, E. Katherine Kerr, Emmy Rossum, Pat Carroll
Director Maggie Greenwald
Certificate Certificate TBC
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: not available
Production year: 2000
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews of Songcatcher

    View all
  • 2 stars out of 5

    With a lighter touch, this could have been a charming celebration of America's folk heritage and a discerning discussion of the sacrifices involved in creating its industrial might. But Maggie Greenwald's tendency to melodrama allows stock characters to assume control of the intriguing early 20th-century scenario. Driven from academe by chauvinism, musicologist Janet McTeer's plan to record for posterity the ballads she hears in the remote mountain town where her sister teaches are jeopardised by the incursion of a ruthless mining company. Her relationship with frontiersman Aidan Quinn is more than a novelettish romance, but the story's real interest lies elsewhere.

    • Radio Times
  • Most helpful member's review of Songcatcher

    View all
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    The Ultimate Mountain Music Movie?

    Set in the Appalachian mountains in the early part of the 20th century, this is a beautifully told story about a passed over musicologist who goes to stay with kin. This well acted drama captures the slow pace of life of mountain folk in that era, but it is really all about the Blue Grass or Mountain Music that has been handed down from generation to generation since the arrival of settlers from GB and Ireland more than a century before.

    The music is prominent throughout the film and is presented as 'live' performances. I give this 4 stars simply because the movie is so different, and the music makes it so. I am not certain this movie will appeal to all British audiences and you may not agree with my rating. If you enjoyed the music in 'Oh Brother Where Art Thou' then you might like to give this a try. You may otherwise be disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed it's 109 minutes.

    Dave S.

      • A customer from Cannock, Staffordshire
  • More like this

    View all

Rating breakdown

5 Member ratings
  • 100
0
  • 90
1
  • 80
1
  • 70
0
  • 60
0
  • 50
0
  • 40
1
  • 30
0
  • 20
0
  • 10
2

Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop


    • Songcatcher
      Lily Penleric (McTeer), a respected musicologist who is once again passed over for a tenured position at her school. She leaves at the summer break to visit her sister, whilst here she maes an important discovery....