Best movies like The Sandy Bottom Orchestra
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
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 appreciate.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 267
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sincere, touching, feel good, serious, realistic
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Best tv shows and movies like The Sandy Bottom Orchestra (2000):
Similar in 88%
The Conductor (1980)
Plot Summary:
A violinist in a provincial Polish orchestra, whose husband is the director of the ensemble, on a visit to the US ties up with the world- renowned symphony conductor. As it turns out he was once in love with violinist's mother. The conductor, a slightly unstable hypochondriac, returns to Poland to lead the provincial orchestra. He also tries to revive old love affair using the violinist as a surrogate of her mother. Her husband is resentful of the conductor for both personal and professional reasons.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 674
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: Poland
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: psychological, touching, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, contemplative
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Similar in 86%
The Hours and Times (1991)
Plot Summary:
A fictionalized account of what may have happened when John Lennon and Brian Epstein went on holiday together to Spain in 1963.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 808
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 57 min
Plot tags: independent film, sincere, serious, realistic, talky, tension, suspense, queer cinema
Similar in 75%
I Used to Be Darker (2013)
Plot Summary:
When Taryn, a Northern Irish runaway, finds herself in trouble in Ocean City, MD, she seeks refuge with her aunt and uncle in Baltimore. But Kim and Bill have problems of their own: they’re trying to handle the end of their marriage gracefully for the sake of their daughter Abby, just home from her first year of college. A story of family revelations, people finding each other and letting each other go, looking for love where they’ve found it before and, when that doesn’t work, figuring out where they might find it next.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: realistic, sincere, touching, serious, contemplative, mumblecore, independent film
Similar in 85%
Small Town Saturday Night (2010)
Plot Summary:
Just days before Rhett (Chris Pine) is leaving for Nashville to pursue a lifelong dream of being a singer/songwriter, his girlfriend Samantha (Bre Blair) realizes that "his" future may not be "their" future. This news comes as a shock to Rhett, and he is faced with having to choose between following his dream and staying in his hometown in order to be with the woman he loves.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: sincere, touching, serious, realistic, contemplative, independent film
Similar in 78%
Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave (1980)
Plot Summary:
This is a lonely New Year's Eve for Hank Williams as he spends it en route to a huge New Years Day concert in Ohio. Hank Williams died that night on the road. Stars Sean McCann, Dixie Seatle. (.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 267
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: Canada
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, gloomy
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Similar in 86%
Stanley's Gig (2000)
Plot Summary:
An emotionally dysfunctional ukulele minstrel lands a gig at a nursing home where he strikes up an unlikely relationship with an ancient jazz chanteuse and awakens from a lifetime of loneliness and inconsequence.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 213
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, realistic, touching, independent film
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Similar in 82%
A Song from the Heart (1999)
Plot Summary:
This poignant love story stars Amy Grant as a beautiful, blind concert cellist who falls for a famous, self-centered pianist but doesn't realize that true love is right before her eyes.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 352
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic
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Similar in 79%
Broken Hill (2009)
Plot Summary:
Tommy was born and raised on a rocky, drought-ridden sheep station in the middle of the Australian Outback.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 758
Genere: Drama, Family, Music
Country: USA, Australia
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: realistic, semi serious, sincere, touching, spiritual, extraordinary
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Tamla Rose (2013)
Plot Summary:
Three teen girls in a Motown band embark on an emotional ride to hell and back.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: UK
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, realistic, feel good
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Similar in 87%
Prodigy (2007)
Plot Summary:
Naruse Uta is a "unique" 13 year old child. She possessed the talent to read sheet music even before she could speak, but has now come to the point where she hates playing the piano. Her father was also a piano virtuoso, but mysteriously disappeared from her life at a young age. Because of her father's disappearance Uta's mother had to move out of their posh home and into a far modest working class neighborhood. In this working class neighborhood there is a local grocer. The grocer's son Kikuna Oto happens to be a budding musician, but lacks the drive to truly succeed. That is until Uta Naruse comes into his life.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 231
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: Japan
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, sincere, touching
Similar in 86%
Broken Bridges (2006)
Plot Summary:
A fading country music star (Keith) returns to his hometown, where he reunites with his childhood sweetheart and also meets his 16-year-old daughter for the first time.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: sentimental, realistic, serious, touching, independent film
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Similar in 77%
Habana Blues (2005)
Plot Summary:
When Spanish record producers express interest in Cuban musicians Ruy and Tito, the longtime friends are faced with the prospect of leaving their loved ones behind. After years of hoping and dreaming, they've finally earned the opportunity to bring their music to the rest of the world. But are the emotional trade-offs worth it in the end?.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: Spain, Cuba, France
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: sincere, touching, emotional, realistic, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 77%
I Am Not a Hipster (2012)
Plot Summary:
Things are not looking good for Brook, a young, talented singer/songwriter who has become the clichéd tortured artist. Slow to come to terms with the death of his mother, Brook is self-absorbed, aggressive, and the major obstruction to his own career success. His isolation is lifted when his three sisters and estranged father come to spread his mother’s ashes. Brook’s loving sisters have a magical effect on his anger and apathy, suggesting there may be hope for the misanthropic musician after all.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: serious, sincere, atmospheric, touching, realistic, mumblecore, gloomy, independent film, inspirational
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Similar in 89%
Duet for One (1986)
Plot Summary:
When Stephanie, a famous violinist, contracts multiple sclerosis her life begins to fall apart. Her career ends, her husband leaves her for another woman and her favorite pupil leave the country. Unable to bear all this loss, Stephanie attempts suicide.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 998
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, touching, emotional, realistic, depressing, independent film
Similar in 84%
Filly Brown (2012)
Plot Summary:
“Majo” Tonorio, a.k.a. Filly Brown, is a raw, young Los Angeles hip-hop artist who spits from the heart. When a sleazy record producer offers her a crack at rap stardom, Majo faces some daunting choices. With an incarcerated mother, a record contract could be the ticket out for her struggling family. But taking the deal means selling out her talent and the true friends who helped her to the cusp of success.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: realistic, sincere, captivating, psychological, hood, serious, independent film
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Similar in 76%
Payday (1973)
Plot Summary:
A cynical look at the life of a not so nice country-western singer, Maury Dann - played by Rip Torn in one of his most memorable performances. He ruthlessly manipulates every one around him to suit his selfish needs...he even gets his limo driver to take the blame for the death of a fan which he stabbed.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: light, independent film, psychological, tense, sincere, clever, serious, realistic, witty, contemplative
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A Time for Dancing (2002)
Plot Summary:
Their love of dance, and their friendship, is challenged for two high school girls when one is diagnosed with cancer.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 952
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sincere, emotional, sentimental, touching, sad, serious, realistic
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Grace Unplugged (2013)
Plot Summary:
A talented young singer and aspiring songwriter’s Christian faith and family ties are tested when she defies her worship-pastor father and pursues pop-music stardom in GRACE UNPLUGGED, a moving and inspiring new film that explores the true meaning of success.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, realistic, christian film, contemplative, grunge
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The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll (2009)
Plot Summary:
In this film, childhood friends come face to face with the demons of rock and roll (lust, drugs, and passion) on a cross-country road trip that compels them to face their past, present, and future. Rocker Spyder, whose debut album was a huge hit saw his follow-on album bomb, causing him to retreat to his small hometown and give up. Seven years later, 27-year-old Spyder reconnects with his long-lost best friend and writer of his debut album Eric, son of a late great punk rock guitar legend, who has long settled into the sedate life of a suburban middle school music teacher. The reunion forces the two to recall their youthful ambitions and re-examine the choices they've made.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 552
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: realistic, psychological, atmospheric, captivating, sentimental, sincere, serious, independent film
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Back to School Mom (2015)
Plot Summary:
Mary Thomas, a free-spirited musician, has spent the past two decades traveling the world, but at age 41 she decides to go back to college and finish her degree so that, for once, she can finally finish something she started. Back at her old university, she becomes close friends with her popular and charming "peer tutor" -- only to learn that he is actually the son she gave up 20 years earlier.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 162
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: sentimental, serious, realistic, touching, sincere, captivating
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The One I Wrote For You (2014)
Plot Summary:
THE ONE I WROTE FOR YOU follows a songwriter who defers his dreams to support his family. He gets a second chance when his 10-year-old daughter, Gracie, secretly enters his name into a song writing contest/reality show. Fourteen original songs help tell the story of Ben Cantor, who follows his dream, but loses himself along the way.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 403
Genere: Drama, Family, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, feel good, serious, realistic
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A Late Quartet (2012)
Plot Summary:
When the beloved cellist of a world-renowned string quartet is diagnosed with a life threatening illness, the group’s future suddenly hangs in the balance as suppressed emotions, competing egos and uncontrollable passions threaten to derail years of friendship and collaboration. As they are about to play their 25th anniversary concert — quite possibly their last — only their intimate bond and the power of music can preserve their legacy.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: realistic, intense, sentimental, sincere, touching, thought provoking, art house, serious, contemplative, gloomy
Similar in 75%
The Identical (2014)
Plot Summary:
During the Great Depression, identical twins are separated at birth. One, Drexel Hemsley becomes a wildly successful '50s rock star, while the other, Ryan Wade, struggles to balance his passion for music and pleasing his parents, who want him to become a preacher. Finally, Ryan rebels against his parents' wishes and launches his own music career -- performing the hits of Drexel Hemsley. Ryan later learns the truth about Drexel when their fates tragically collide.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: captivating, serious, realistic, touching, exciting, sentimental, disgusting
Similar in 87%
Dingo (1991)
Plot Summary:
Young John Anderson is captivated by jazz musician, Billy Cross when he performs on the remote airstrip of his Western Australian outback hometown after his plane is diverted. Years later, now a family man and making a meagre living tracking dingoes and playing trumpet in a local band, John still dreams of joining Billy on trumpet and makes a pilgrimage to Paris.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 450
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: France, Australia
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: realistic, independent film, touching, serious, emotional, scary, inspirational, sexy, thought provoking, unusual plot structure
Similar in 83%
Elvis (1979)
Plot Summary:
Biographical movie about the famous rock singer Elvis Presley.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 168 min
Plot tags: touching, emotional, realistic, sentimental, serious, retro, captivating, psychotronic
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The Mambo Kings (1992)
Plot Summary:
The Mambo Kings tells the story of César and Nestor Castillo, brothers and aspiring musicians who flee from Cuba to America in search of the American Dream.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: France, USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: sentimental, emotional, melancholic, serious, realistic, touching, captivating, fairy tale, romantic, sexy
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The Concert (2009)
Plot Summary:
A former world-famous conductor of the Bolshoï orchestra, known as "The Maëstro", Andreï Filipov had seen his career publicly broken by Leonid Brezhnev for hiring Jewish musicians and now works cleaning the concert hall where he once directed. One day, he intercepts an official invitation from the prestigious Théâtre du Châtelet. Through a series of mad antics, he reunites his old orchestra, now composed of old alcoholic musicians, and flies to perform in Paris and complete the Tchaikovsky concerto interrupted 30 years earlier. For the concerto, he engages a young violin soloist with whom he has an unexpected connection.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Music
Country: France, Italy, Romania, Belgium
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: touching, melancholic, captivating, sentimental, feel good, breathtaking, sincere, surreal, humorous, realistic
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Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
Plot Summary:
In 1965, passionate musician Glenn Holland takes a day job as a high school music teacher, convinced it's just a small obstacle on the road to his true calling: writing a historic opus. As the decades roll by with the composition unwritten but generations of students inspired through his teaching, Holland must redefine his life's purpose.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 41000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 143 min
Plot tags: inspirational, emotional, touching, sentimental, sincere, serious, realistic, dramatic, sad, motivational
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Crazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story (2013)
Plot Summary:
TLC's humble beginnings in Atlanta quickly led to an unprecedented rise to fame in the 1990's as one of the world's most talented, celebrated and highest-selling female groups of all time. Through very public and high profile success, turmoil and tragedy, TLC left an indelible stamp of female empowerment that changed the face of the music industry forever.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, realistic, captivating
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Georgia (1995)
Plot Summary:
Sadie looks up to her older sister Georgia, a successful folk singer who's happily married with children, but can't break out of the bar-band circuit and hit the big time she desperately covets. It's in part due to her attraction to drugs and booze, and also to her own unwise choice in men. Finally, though, Sadie's Achilles heel is a rough, unlovely voice very different than her sister's crowd-pleasing singing.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: France, USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: emotional, melancholic, sincere, serious, realistic, talky, independent film, touching, gloomy, sexy