Category: (DVD)
13 new, starting at $9.11
10 used, starting at $3.52
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 07/13/2004 Run time: 100 minutes Rating: Nr
The young-adult novel by Garrison Keillor and Jenny Lind Nilsson gets a lively update in this Showtime feature about an unusual family in Sandy Bottom, Wisconsin. The Greens share musical aspirations, but daughter Rachel (Madeline Zima), a talented violinist, is the one most likely to achieve them. Norman (Tom Irwin) is a dairy farmer and Ingrid (Glenne Headly) is a choir director who abandoned the piano when she married and settled down, but the Greens are a happy family, for the most part. The trick is finding a way to reconcile their dreams with a reality that may hold more riches than they realize. When Norman gets a chance to conduct the local orchestra for the Dairy Days celebration, it's an opportunity for the family to come together, not just with each other, but with a community they had never fully appreciated. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Sandy Bottom OrchestraReviewed by Joyce Eli, 2009-09-01
Everyone has purpose and meaning in life. This is the best movie that I have seen in years. Great family movie ~ moral of the story...characters shine in this movie.
LIVE OUT YOUR DREAMS!!Reviewed by Loves To Read, 2008-04-20
This is a Hallmark/Showtime made for TV movie adapted from the Novel by Garrison Keillor who also acted as a consultant for the movie. Norman is the father who dreams of conducting classical music and practices while shaving and managing his herd of dairy cows. Ingrid is the mother who gave up a promising musical career to marry Norman and live in the small community of Sandy Bottom, WI. She is also the town activist. Rachel is the 14 year old daughter who has inherited her mother's musical talent but can't find a place in school where all her friends are into girls' baseball and cheerleading. Can this out of place family find a way to connect with the rest of the townspeople or will they will be forever the joke of the community. This is a movie about life in a small town and the agony of growing up different. It's about family and friends and community and the problems and crises they experience. And it wouldn't be a Garrison Keillor story without a Lutheran Church that is somewhat dysfunctional about its music. While this could easily have turned out sappy and syrupy, it's quite satisfying emotionally and intellectually. It's definitely as family friendly as they come. No sex, no violence, one bad word that I can remember, it's a Hallmark film in their best tradition. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. [...]
Wonderful family movieReviewed by Catlady13, 2007-08-04
A good movie for kids and adults who have special talents, who stand alone in the crowd, to show them that they are not alone, and that they do have a place in this world. It also makes points about true friendship, and how a dream can come true if you try hard enough and have enough faith in yourself. Also touches on the art of compromise. Great story line.
Love of Classical MusicReviewed by Jennifer Ferring, 2007-06-24
This movie is excellent because it focuses on everyday life instead of fantasy (like Hollywood usually does). I can wholly relate to the 2 main characters as I too am a classical pianist and violinist who has always been the outsider (sometimes the reason being because of my love of classical music). It is a great family movie and can help boost your spirits if you are an outsider as well as give you the engery that you need in order to keep going to make a difference inspite of what other people think.
The Sandy Bottom OrchestraReviewed by David A. Ginn, 2006-02-08
A film from the heart. This is another one of those hidden
gems of a story. Great acting and scenes. If you love music, you
will love this film. If you are not into music, the story will
touch your heart. We need more movies like this.
