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Music of the Heart
USA 1999
New York, the present. Roberta Guaspari, a navy wife and talented violinist, is abandoned by her husband. Left to fend forherselfandhertwosons, she is encouraged by her friend Brian (who later becomes her lover) to teach music at an East Harlem high school as a substitute. Eventually she convinces the sceptical principal to give her a permanent job. After initial classroom chaos, Roberta becomes a successful teacher. She buys a house in Harlem, but ends her relationship with Brian because she senses his lack of commitment.
Ten years later, the still-single Roberta is running three violin programmes at various schools on which photojournalist Dorothea is writing an article. Roberta's two sons take out a lonelyhearts advertisement in her name. Dan, who works at a journalism school, replies to it but Roberta remains wary. When her courses suddenly lose their funding, Roberta organises a "Fiddlefest" charity concert, encouraged by Dorothea. Dan and Dorothea help to publicise her plight in various newspapers. When the venue for the Fiddlefest is flooded, Dorothea uses contacts - including her husband, the famous violinist Arnold Steinhardt - to rebook the concert...