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Songcatcher

Play trailer Poster for Songcatcher PG-13 Released Jun 15, 2001 1h 52m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
74% Tomatometer 89 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A film about a woman whose drive to pursue the things she believes in leads her on an unexpected path to self-discovery. It is 1907, and musicologist Doctor Lily Penleric (Janet McTeer) has just been denied a promotion in the male-dominated world of her university. Frustrated and determined to get academic recognition, she heads to Appalachia with a recording device and writing materials.
Songcatcher

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The story may be a bit too melodramatic, but great performances abound in Songcatcher. The real reason to see the movie, however, is the hypnotic music.

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Critics Reviews

View All (89) Critics Reviews
Lisa Alspector Chicago Reader Like the main character, it's stodgy and didactic -- and full of grace and surprises. Apr 24, 2012 Full Review Dennis Harvey Variety Songcatcher unfolds at a leisurely but enjoyable pace, its dramatic contrivances never pushed too hard by director Maggie Greenwald. Mar 27, 2009 Full Review Kimberley Jones Austin Chronicle Buy the soundtrack. Skip the film. Rated: 0.5/5 Mar 10, 2003 Full Review Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) The music is heavenly, as are the performances of Miss McTeer and Aidan Quinn. Rated: B+ Apr 30, 2024 Full Review Ronni Radner Out Magazine With an infectious soundtrack featuring Emmylou Harris, Songcatcher is an artfully inspirational tale of women's independence during times of turbulent change. May 27, 2022 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: B Jan 24, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (147) audience reviews
steve d There is not a lot to it and what there is isn't especially interesting. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Frances H Loved the singing, the music, the cinematography, the acting, and everything else about this lovely film. Good to see Pat Caroll again! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/26/17 Full Review Audience Member Janet McTeer is great and some of the music is nice but overall it is a bit of a bore. Great costumes though Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Not suitable for families. One subplot constitutes an effort to sell Lesbianism to the audience, portraying those who don't accept it as apt to be homicidal, barn-burning, hell-fire-shouting bigots. Hard to escape this agenda these days. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Songcatcher shows the Smokies almost as beautiful as they are in real life. The music shines with perhaps too much polish but is well done and enjoyable. Otherwise, this movie was the most sexist tripe I've seen. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member Worth it for the music alone... Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Songcatcher

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Cast & Crew

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Maggie Greenwald

Director

Janet McTeer

Lily Penleric

Aidan Quinn

Tom Bledsoe

Pat Carroll

Viney Butler

Jane Adams

Elna Penleric

Gregory Russell Cook

Fate Honeycutt

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Songcatcher

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Movie Info

Synopsis A film about a woman whose drive to pursue the things she believes in leads her on an unexpected path to self-discovery. It is 1907, and musicologist Doctor Lily Penleric (Janet McTeer) has just been denied a promotion in the male-dominated world of her university. Frustrated and determined to get academic recognition, she heads to Appalachia with a recording device and writing materials.
Director
Maggie Greenwald
Producer
Dick Miller, Ellen Rigas-Venetis
Screenwriter
Maggie Greenwald
Distributor
Lionsgate Films, Songcather Films LLC
Production Co
ErgoArts, Independent Film Project, Rigas Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Sexual Content|Intense Scene of Childbirth)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 15, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 6, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.1M
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo