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“See, that’s what you outlanders don’t understand. Life is for enjoyin’, not just for gettin’ and workin’, and gettin’ and workin’.” — Tom Bledsoe
It’s 1907, and Dr. Lily Penleric (Janet McTeer), a musicologist, has just been denied a hard-earned promotion by the all-male faculty at the university where she works. Outraged, she chooses a change of pace: a trip to see her sister, Elna (Jane Adams), who teaches at a one-room school in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. There, to her delight, she discovers English folk songs preserved in their purest form, so she decides to collect, transcribe, and publish the songs for posterity.
But these mountain dwellers aren’t easily persuaded; they’ve already been preyed upon by “outlanders” eager to exploit them and steal their gifts. Lily has to earn their trust by letting down her hair a bit: eating their hunted and foraged food, assisting with difficult births, joining in their country dances. She also has to face Tom Bledsoe (Aiden Quinn), a strong, smart, tough widowed mountain man, who fought for his country when he lived down below—and defends his home against those who would try to change it.
Songcatcher starts out being a story about Lily collecting Appalachian folk songs, but it grows to become more about the songs of the people capturing her heart. She lets go of her judgmental assumptions about the people’s backward ways, as she allows the lush, gentle mountains to teach her to live in the present and enjoy what’s around her.
But it’s not all about beauty; there’s also a strong feminist voice to this film. Powerful men in both worlds use cruel methods to control and victimize women. In contrast, the movie honors the creative, artistic, nurturing, and resourceful gifts of women.
Mostly, though, it’s about the music. Banjos, guitars, dulcimers, a cameo by Taj Mahal, and amazing mountain voices—including those of a young Emmy Rossum and a deep, earthy Pat Carroll, who gives a terrific performance as Viney, a mountain grandma who’s as old and strong as the hills.
Songcatcher won a Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2000 for best dramatic ensemble performance. Of special interest is the soundtrack; along with the voices in the film, major country artists performed some of the traditional ballads on the release, including Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Dolly Parton, and Patty Loveless.
Although the movie is fiction, it’s based on the work of Olive Dame Campbell and Cecil Sharp, who did the original research and cataloging of these songs. If you love roots music or English folk songs—or you just want to see the gorgeous scenery—indulge yourself in this wonderful indie film.
