In a story of 1907, Dr. Lily Penleric, played by Janet McTeer, a professor of musicology, impetuously goes to see her sister Eleanor, played by Jane Adams, in Appalachia, after a rejection of promotion at her academy. There, she finds a treasure trove of Scots-Irish / Ulster-Scots ballads, songs which have trickled down generations, intact, owing to the isolation of the mountains. With the intent of ensuring her promotion, Lily goes into the most secluded areas of the mountains to amass the songs. She comes across an orphan, Deladis Slocumb played by Emmanuelle Rossum, and is more and more charmed not only by the magic of the music but also by the rugged fortitude of the locals who give meaning to their lives amongst the coarsest settings. She finds herself in midst of their resistance to keep their land from Earl Giddens, who represents a coal tycoon Ambrose McFarland played by Steve Boles. She witnesses the atrocities the locals face. She tries to understand their ways of life. She runs into Tom Bledsoe, played by Aidan Quinn, an attractive, tough battle veteran, and gifted musician, and is forced to inspect her impulse. In the end, most matters are settled in some way or another. A misfortune that devastates all of Lily’s work leaves her deciding to discontinue, but with a twist in the tail.
Songcatcher though a bit melodramatic, you may want to watch it more than once. It is a montage of earthy beauty, fascinating songs, and resistance of the common man against the cruelties of life. It is extremely well performed, well-directed, and charismatically musical.