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August Rush Movie Review Summary

Actors: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Robin Williams

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of August Rush


A young musically-gifted boy goes to New York to look for his parents. Evan is a music prodigy who lives in an orphanage and wants to look for his parents. His mom Lyla, a cellist, and dad Louis, a rocker, had a one night stand 11 years back. Lyla got pregnant but her father did not approve since it would ruin her career. When Lyla had a car accident, his father told her that the baby died when he really gave it up for adoption. Both Lyla and Louis do not know that they have a son. She eventually moved to Chicago, and he moved to San Francisco, and didn't have the chance to meet again. Present day, Evan finds a confidant in a social worker Richard and tells him that he will one day be reunited with his parents, wherever they are. Evan runs away to New York and meets a street performer who takes him back to his place. He is one of many kids controlled by Wizard, a guy who makes money off of street kids. Meanwhile, Lyla's fathers reveals the truth to her on his deathbed, so Lyla moves to New York to find Evan. Consequently, Louis tries to get in touch with Lyla but fails, he goes back to New York and joins his band. When Wizard's place is raided, Evan seeks refuge in a church, there he meets a pastor who is impressed with his talent, and enrolls him in Juilliard where he excels. Meanwhile, Lyla has met with Richard and learns that Evan is missing. She takes up the cello again and is set to perform in an outdoor concert at Central Park. Evan coincidentally will also perform at the concert, conducting his masterpiece. But Wizard takes him out of Juilliard and forbids him to go. That night he escapes and runs to the park. Louis finds out that Lyla's playing there, so he too goes to the concert. As Evan is onstage, Louis and Lyla are in the audience, entranced with Evan's piece, they eye each other and are finally reunited. Evan sees them and instinctively knows that his family is now complete.
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Best part of story, including ending: It has fantasy elements, such as Evan's inclination to hearing music in everything around him, and following the music to New York where he will eventually find his parents.

Best scene in story: I like when Evan and Louis have a chance encounter at the park, not knowing their relation, and they play their guitars in-sync.

Opinion about the main character: Evan's wide-eyed optimism and his faith that if he follows his heart, his wish will come true.

The review of this Movie prepared by Tina Medina a Level 30 Banded Kingfisher scholar

Script Analysis of August Rush

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Plot & Themes

Time/era of movie:    -   2000's+ (present) Kids growing up/acting up?    -   Yes Kids:    -   runaways! Inner struggle or disability    -   Yes Struggle with    -   search for family/history Parent(s) gone?    -   Orphan story Age group    -   trouble in grade school

Main Character

Identity:    -   Male Age:    -   a kid Ethnicity/Nationality    -   White American Unusual characteristics:    -   Super genius

Setting

City?    -   Yes City:    -   New York

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   no torture/death Sex/nudity in movie?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   vague references only    -   kissing Any profanity?    -   Occasional swearing

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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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