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Playing from the Heart
By Nell Minow,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
This story of deaf musician is a real treasure.
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
This theatrical production of the real-life story of deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie begins with Evelyn as a child in a small town in Scotland, much beloved by her family. No one understands why the little girl's hearing is diminishing. As Evelyn grows, she becomes profoundly deaf, but insists that she wants to be a percussionist, and that she can "hear" through the vibrations in her nose. She learns to play barefoot, so that she can hear with her "ears on the inside" and through determination and hard work she is able to defy the expectations of all around her and gain acceptance to the Royal Academy of Music.
Is It Any Good?
PLAYING FROM THE HEART is a real treasure for family viewing. As with the other productions from Globalstage, it may take some kids a while to get used to the more impressionistic style of story-telling of a filmed stage production, but it is well worthwhile, both for the exposure to a subtler, more challenging style of storytelling and for the considerable merits of this extraordinary story.
One of the best of this first-class series, this video is well worth watching. The tape includes footage of the real Evelyn Glennie, now a world-famous musician.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how we form our dreams, confronting obstacles including the obstacle of other people's expectations, the importance of supporting the dreams of those we love, and the importance of music. Families should also talk about the ways in which this kind of story-telling can be more effective than a more literal and linear depiction.
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 30, 1999
- On DVD or streaming: January 4, 2011
- Cast: Joe Brack , Misty Demory , Rex Daugherty
- Studio: Imagination Studio
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 70 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: September 19, 2019
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