Music of the Heart

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Music of the Heart ★★½ 50 Violins 1999 (PG)

Based on the true story of violin teacher Roberta Guaspari, who was also the subject of the 1996 documentary, “Small Wonders.” A divorced Guaspari (Streep) leaves suburbia with her two young sons and a dream to teach music to children, using the 50 violins she had purchased. Roberta finds herself working with a group of Harlem students on what will become the landmark East Harlem Violin Program. Despite numerous obstacles, their determination eventually leads to a performance at Carnegie Hall. Streep gives her usual professionally winning performance in this sentimental heart-tugger. 124m/C VHS, DVD . Meryl Streep, Angela Bassett, Aidan Quinn, Gloria Estefan, Cloris Leachman, Kieran Culkin, Charlie Hofheimer, Jay O. Sanders, Josh Pais; D: Wes Craven; W: Pamela Gray; C: Peter Deming; M: Mason Daring.