Songcatcher

In 1907, Dr. Lily Penleric (Janet McTeer), a musicology professor with an unfulfilled career, finds herself at a crossroads after being denied promotion at her university. With a heavy heart, she impulsively visits her sister Eleanor (Jane Adams) in Appalachia, who runs a struggling rural school where the air is alive with traditional English and Scotch-Irish ballads that have been preserved for centuries by the isolated mountain people. These songs, passed down through generations since the colonial era of the 1600s and 1700s, hold secrets and stories that Lily is determined to share with the world.

With the help of Deladis Slocumb (Emmy Rossum), a talented orphan who shares her passion for music, Lily ventures into the heart of the mountains, uncovering hidden gems and immersing herself in the rugged beauty of the region. As she delves deeper into the culture, she finds herself captivated not only by the unbridled purity of the music but also by the unwavering resilience of the local people who face the unforgiving conditions with courage and determination. Her journey takes a turn when she becomes privy to the struggles of the community as they fight to protect their land from Earl Giddens (David Patrick Kelly), the representative of a coal mining company that threatens to ravage their way of life.

As Lily's connection to her sister deepens, she is forced to confront Eleanor's secrets, including her lesbian love affair with Harriet, a co-teacher at the school. This revelation sends shockwaves through Lily's perception of her sister and the world around her. Meanwhile, she finds herself drawn to Tom Bledsoe (Aidan Quinn), a charismatic war veteran with a troubled past who shares her passion for music. Despite initial reservations from Tom about her intentions, they begin an affair that awakens something deep within them.

As events unfold, Lily's perspective on the mountain people and their traditions undergoes a profound transformation. The crisis comes when a young man discovers Eleanor and Harriet in a tender moment, leading to a devastating act of violence that destroys the school building, leaving Eleanor, Harriet, and Deladis without a home. In the aftermath, Lily decides to leave, but she convinces Tom and Deladis to join her on an adventure to preserve the mountain music by making phonograph recordings. As they depart, Cyrus Whittle, a renowned professor from England, arrives with his own mission to collect the ballads, ensuring that Lily's original intention of sharing these treasures with the world is fulfilled.