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Hearing Is Believing (2017) movie poster

Timeline

Hearing Is Believing (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 104 min · English
JustWatch #17,349 2
Directed by
Lorenzo DeStefano
Starring
Brian Hutchison, Benny Chong II, Cynthia Gonzalez, Dan Flowers, Greg Benevidez, Jeanie Flowers

This documentary follows the remarkable story of Rachel Flowers, a talented musician and composer who rose above her humble beginnings. Filmmaker Lorenzo DeStefano explores Rachel's inspiring journey as she pursues her passion for music and overcomes challenges to achieve her dreams, showcasing her exceptional gifts and unwavering determination.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Hearing Is Believing
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Hearing Is Believing (2017)

Where can you watch Hearing Is Believing? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla and Amazon Prime Video Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Hearing Is Believing Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Hearing Is Believing (2017) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Birth of Rachel Flowers

    Rachel Flowers was born on December 21, 1993, at just 15 weeks premature, weighing a mere one pound and five ounces. Despite this difficult start to life, she demonstrated tremendous resilience that would shape her future.

    When
    December 21, 1993
  2. Loss of Sight

    Due to Retinopathy of Prematurity, Rachel unfortunately lost her sight, marking a significant challenge in her early life. However, this setback did not deter her from exploring her innate musical talents.

  3. Early Musical Talent

    By the age of two, Rachel showcased her extraordinary gift by playing songs she heard by ear, revealing her perfect pitch. This remarkable ability hinted at her future as a gifted musician.

  4. Musical Education Begins

    Rachel began her formal music education at just four years old, enrolling as a student at the Southern California Conservatory of Music. This early start set the foundation for her lifelong passion for music.

    Where
    Southern California Conservatory of Music
  5. Learning Braille Music Code

    Over the next decade, Rachel dedicated herself to piano studies and learned the Braille Music Code along with adaptive computer music applications. This knowledge would prove essential in her musical journey.

  6. Features on 60 Minutes

    Rachel gained national attention as she was featured in segments on 60 Minutes in 2005 and 2008. These appearances spotlighted the Music Academy for the Blind in Los Angeles, showcasing both her talent and resilience.

    When
    2005 and 2008
    Where
    Los Angeles
  7. Life in Oxnard

    Rachel shares her life with her mother Jeanie, her brother Vaughan, and her father Dan in Oxnard, California. This close-knit family dynamic plays a crucial role in Rachel's life and musical development.

    Where
    Oxnard, California
  8. Father's Struggles with Sight

    Dan Flowers, Rachel's father, faces his own struggles with failing eyesight due to a genetic condition. His attendance at mobility training classes at the Braille Institute in Santa Barbara reflects the challenges that the family navigates together.

    Where
    Santa Barbara
  9. Support from the Music Community

    The film features contributions from music legends such as Stevie Wonder, Dweezil Zappa, and jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. Their involvement highlights the support and recognition Rachel receives from the wider music community.

  10. Production Begins

    Production on *Hearing is Believing* commenced in March 2014, as the film team began capturing Rachel's life and family dynamics over 42 days of footage. This period of filming is crucial to telling their story.

    When
    March 2014
  11. Challenges of Independent Film

    The team faced inherent uncertainties that come with independent filmmaking while focusing on the Flowers family's compelling story. Despite the obstacles, their aim is to create a resonating portrayal of Rachel's experience.

  12. Rachel's Original Composition

    Rachel's original piece, 'At The End Of The Day,' was recorded by the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony, showcasing her exceptional musical abilities. This accomplishment emphasizes her talent and dedication to her craft.

    Where
    Santa Barbara
  13. Celebration of Family and Music

    Throughout the film, the Flowers family navigates both joyful and challenging moments, with Rachel’s music serving as their inspiring soundtrack. The narrative focuses on the strength of family ties and the beauty of musical expression.

  14. Rachel's Resilience

    Now 21 years old, Rachel exemplifies resilience as she continues her journey as a musician. Her story serves as an inspiration, shedding light on the strength found in adversity and the power of music.

Last updated: October 25, 2024 at 09:36

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Timeline questions answered

Hearing Is Believing Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Hearing Is Believing (2017): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Rachel Flowers born prematurely?

Rachel Flowers was born on December 21, 1993, at just 15 weeks premature, weighing only one pound and five ounces. This extremely early birth was the reason she developed Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), a condition that caused her to lose her sight.

  • premature birth
  • rachel flowers
  • retinopathy of prematurity
Q2

How did Rachel Flowers lose her sight?

Rachel lost her sight due to Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), a condition that affects premature infants. This eye disorder developed as a complication of her extremely early birth at 15 weeks premature.

  • blindness
  • rop
  • retinopathy of prematurity
  • rachel flowers
Q3

How did Rachel develop her musical abilities at such a young age?

By the age of two, Rachel could play any song she heard by ear, demonstrating perfect pitch. This extraordinary musical gift emerged naturally and required no formal training at that young age, leading her family to enroll her in formal music education at age four.

  • perfect pitch
  • musical talent
  • rachel flowers
  • piano
Q4

What is the Braille Music Code and how does Rachel use it?

The Braille Music Code is a system that allows blind musicians to read and write musical notation using Braille. Rachel learned this code over the decade following her enrollment at the Southern California Conservatory of Music, along with adaptive computer music applications, enabling her to compose and study music independently.

  • braille music code
  • blind musician
  • rachel flowers
  • music education
Q5

Why does Rachel's father also have failing eyesight?

Rachel's father, Dan Flowers, experiences failing eyesight due to a genetic condition that differs from Rachel's blindness. While Rachel lost her sight from ROP (a complication of prematurity), Dan's condition is hereditary. Despite their different circumstances, both father and daughter find support through the Braille Institute.

  • dan flowers
  • genetic condition
  • braille institute
  • family support
Q6

What is Rachel's original composition "At The End Of The Day"?

"At The End Of The Day" is Rachel Flowers' original musical composition. The Santa Barbara Youth Symphony recorded this piece, showcasing her exceptional ability to compose original music despite her blindness. This recording represents one of her significant accomplishments featured in the film.

  • at the end of the day
  • composition
  • santa barbara youth symphony
  • rachel flowers
Q7

Why was Rachel Flowers featured on 60 Minutes?

Rachel was featured on 60 Minutes in both 2005 and 2008 because of her remarkable musical talents as a blind prodigy. The segments highlighted the Music Academy for the Blind in Los Angeles, where Rachel received support and training, bringing national attention to her extraordinary abilities.

  • 60 minutes
  • music academy for the blind
  • rachel flowers
  • media coverage
Q8

How does Rachel's mother contribute to her musical journey?

Rachel's mother, Jeanie Flowers, is herself a talented singer and musician. She lives with Rachel and her brother Vaughan in Oxnard, California, providing daily support and encouragement for Rachel's musical development. The film portrays their close-knit family dynamic as central to Rachel's success.

  • jeanie flowers
  • mother
  • family support
  • oxnard
Q9

What challenges does the Flowers family face financially?

The Flowers family lives on the edge financially, as highlighted in the documentary. Despite these economic hardships, the family remains close-knit and supportive, with Rachel's music serving as an uplifting force that helps them navigate their challenges together.

  • financial struggle
  • family
  • hardship
  • flowers family
Q10

Which renowned musicians appear in Hearing Is Believing?

The documentary features contributions from several music legends, including Stevie Wonder, Keith Emerson of Emerson Lake & Palmer, Dweezil Zappa, jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, Patrick Maraz of the Moody Blues, and jazz pianist Taylor Eigsti. These artists recognize and support Rachel's exceptional talents.

  • stevie wonder
  • keith emerson
  • dweezil zappa
  • arturo sandoval
  • music legends
Q11

When was Hearing Is Believing filmed and produced?

Production on Hearing Is Believing began in March 2014. The filmmakers captured 42 days of footage focusing on Rachel's life and family dynamics. At the time of the film's completion, Rachel was 21 years old.

  • production
  • 2014
  • filming
  • lorenzo destefano

Movie threads

More Movies Like Hearing Is Believing, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Hearing Is Believing tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Intimate artist documentaries like Hearing Is Believing

Personal portraits of artists overcoming obstacles to share their gifts with the world. If you were inspired by Hearing Is Believing, explore other documentaries that profile talented artists on their personal journeys. These films share a hopeful tone and steady pacing, focusing on the power of creativity and perseverance in the face of adversity.

  • inspiring
  • intimate
  • uplifting
  • heartfelt
  • reflective
  • triumphant
  • Tone: hopeful, inspiring
  • Pacing: steady, linear
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These documentaries typically follow a linear biographical structure, tracing an artist's path from early challenges to significant achievements. The central conflict often involves overcoming external obstacles like disability or financial hardship, or internal struggles like self-doubt, culminating in joyful recognition of their talent.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on the creative process, an uplifting and hopeful tone, and a narrative built around perseverance. The viewing experience is consistently intimate, heartfelt, and focused on the power of art to transform lives.

Movies about overcoming adversity like Hearing Is Believing

Stories where resilience and support lead to uplifting personal victories. For viewers who loved the inspiring journey in Hearing Is Believing, this collection features stories with a similar vibe. Discover films about perseverance, strong family bonds, and happy endings that celebrate the strength of the human spirit.

  • hopeful
  • uplifting
  • inspiring
  • heartfelt
  • triumphant
  • resilience
  • Tone: hopeful, heartfelt
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a protagonist confronting a major obstacle. The journey is characterized by small victories and setbacks, emphasizing personal growth and the power of support systems. The arc is fundamentally positive, building towards a conclusion that feels earned and happy, focusing on ability rather than limitation.

Why they belong together: These films share a cohesive mix of a hopeful tone, medium emotional weight, and a happy ending feel. They prioritize inspiration over despair, creating a viewing experience that is emotionally impactful yet ultimately uplifting and satisfying.

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Every angle

Hearing Is Believing (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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