Songcatcher

In the year 1907, Dr. Lily Penleric, a passionate musicology professor, faces disappointment when she is denied a much-deserved promotion at her university. This setback leaves her feeling discouraged and questioning her path in life.

Feeling disheartened, Lily makes an impulsive decision to visit her sister Eleanor, who is struggling to keep her rural school running in the remote mountains of Appalachia. This visit marks a turning point for Lily as she looks for solace and a new purpose.

Upon her arrival, Lily uncovers a rich repository of traditional English and Scotch-Irish ballads preserved by the local, isolated communities since the colonial era. This discovery ignites Lily's passion to document and share these musical treasures with the wider world.

With the help of Deladis Slocumb, a gifted orphan in the community, Lily embarks on numerous adventures throughout the rugged mountainous regions to gather the enchanting tunes. Together, they face challenges but grow closer while discovering the beauty of the local culture.

As Lily delves deeper into the local music, she becomes aware of the resilience and spirit of the community amid their struggles. She learns about their fight against Earl Giddens, a representative from a coal mining operation that threatens to destroy their land.

Compounding Lily's emotional turmoil, she discovers that Eleanor is in a romantic relationship with her co-teacher, Harriet. This revelation forces Lily to confront her perceptions of her sister's choices and their implications on their family dynamics.

Lily's journey takes an unexpected turn when she meets Tom Bledsoe, a handsome war veteran with a love for music. Initially skeptical of Lily's motives, Tom slowly begins to see her in a new light as they bond over their shared passion.

As their relationship flourishes, Lily starts to reassess her prejudices about the mountain folk. Her interactions with Tom help her appreciate their culture and understand the complexities of her sister's life choices.

Conflict escalates when a local young man spots Eleanor and Harriet sharing a kiss in the woods. Fueled by anger, two men retaliate that night by setting fire to the schoolhouse, resulting in devastating consequences for the community.

The fire destroys not only the schoolhouse but also Lily's painstaking transcriptions and recordings of the precious ballads. This loss compels Lily to re-evaluate her future in the mountains and consider leaving.

Faced with the destruction around her, Lily decides it’s time to leave the mountains behind. However, she persuades Tom and Deladis to join her in pursuing a new venture to make and sell phonograph recordings of the local music.

As they make their way out of the valley, they encounter Cyrus Whittle, a distinguished professor from England. His arrival signifies a shared mission to collect and preserve the mountain music, aligning with Lily's original vision.