Parents' Guide to

The Von Trapp Family: A Life of Music

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Classic tale from daughter's viewpoint; some violence.

Movie NR 2016 98 minutes
The Von Trapp Family: A Life of Music Poster Image

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age 10+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Nick1952
Nick1952 Adult
October 5, 2019
age 10+

Great film, but not accurate!

The musical and film, "The Sound of Music", is wonderful, but not accurate in a number of ways. I expected "The von Trapp Family: a Life of Music" to be more accurate, but it too falls short in that regard. Three examples of this: the family didn't flee Austria secretly, by night. It publicly announced that it was leaving to perform in America and left during the day, taking a train at a station that was close to their home! Not seen in either film is Father Franz Wasner. Fr. Wasner was a friend of Georg von Trapp. He became the family's musical director and remained so for 20 years. He accompanied them when they performed in Austria and he also accompanied them to the United States. Finally, the family sang in harmony, not in unison, but all through the film we hear "unison". Why is it so hard to portray a real family's history accurately? That said, the costumes, sets, scenery, and acting in "A Life of Music" is very, very good, a nicely crafted film, highly recommended.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Janet R.
Janet R. Adult
June 11, 2018
age 10+

Von Trapp Family: A Life of Music

Really good drama. But I would like to have seen more about their early life in America. This story pretty muuch tells, more acurately, what the Sound of Music told. I hope there will be a sequel.

This title has:

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What's the Story?

Told in a series of flashbacks, THE VON TRAPP FAMILY: A LIFE OF MUSIC recounts the tale of a large, loving, musically talented family in 1930s Austria. When Captain Georg Von Trapp (Matthew Macfadyen) loses his beloved wife and the mother of his seven children, the oldest daughter, Agathe (played by Eliza Bennett as a young adult and Rosemary Harris as the older Agathe) takes over all the maternal responsibilities. Close to her father and fearful of losing him to Maria (Yvonne Catterfeld), the novitiate nun turned nanny with whom he's falling in love, Agathe is troubled and behaves badly. Events in Salzburg, however, bring the family close together. Germany is now ruled hand and heart by Adolf Hitler and his supporters. The Nazis are moving quickly to overtake an economically strapped Austria, and some of its citizens have signed on to the evil propaganda. With the aid of her lifelong friend, Sigi (Johannes Nussbaum), Agathe's awareness of impending danger is heightened. Joining Maria, the young woman must convince her patriotic but naive father that the family's only chance for survival is to use their musical talents to escape Salzburg and make a new life in America.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (3):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Solid performances by the principal cast, lovely imagery, and a heartwarming tale bring this more dramatic version of the classic musical The Sound of Music to life. Based on the real-life events described in Agathe Von Trapp's autobiography, the movie highlights characters and details new to viewers. Particularly moving (and, spoiler alert, ultimately shattering) is the relationship between Agathe and her lifelong friend, Sigi. Colonel Von Trapp as played by Matthew Macfadyen is warm and present and provides a stark contrast to Agathe's growing understanding of the events that will follow. The film introduces the Von Trapp family's relationship with famous opera star Lotte Lehman (Annette Dasch). All in all, a nice addendum to the iconic musical, and the movie stands on its own as well. Fine for families; however, two poignant deaths make it questionable for very young or super-sensitive kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how filmmakers often use a personal story to bring history to life on-screen. How does watching the Von Trapp family's drama promote understanding of what all of Europe was experiencing during the rise of Nazism? Are the roots of World War II made clearer to you?

  • Discuss the differences between the real Sigi, Agathe's young male friend in this film, and the fictional Rolfe, the messenger with whom Liesl was in love in The Sound of Music. Why do you think the filmmakers chose to make Rolfe a Nazi sympathizer? How might portraying the real story of Sigi have changed your feelings about the musical?

  • What was the purpose of telling the tale in flashbacks from the point of view of an elderly Agathe? How did the remembered story resonate in the present day? What does that say about the commonality of human experience over time and place?

Movie Details

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