GREAT READS

The Music Never Stopped

Simmons, J. K.

With our shelves filled with so many blockbuster movies and classics, it's easy to overlook some of the wonderful, small release titles we carry. I happened to see a trailer for "The Music Never Stopped" while watching another film recently and remembered seeing it in our collection at the library. What initially caught my attention was the music that filled the movie. Being one of those people who can relate everything back to a particular song, I knew I would love the soundtrack if nothing else. Was I ever surprised that I not only loved the music throughout, but I loved everything about this movie!

Based on a true story and taken from an essay entitled "The Last Hippie" by Dr. Oliver Sacks, the film tells the story of the rocky relationship between teenager Gabriel Sawyer and his overbearing and critical father, Henry. Growing up in the 1960's, Gabriel embraced the emerging rock and roll scene and lived to play the music of that generation. Unfortunately, Henry had other plans for Gabriel and hardened himself to the life that his son had chosen. After a devastatingly raw argument, Gabriel leaves home and his parents don't hear another word from him for 20 years. Out of the blue, the phone rings and their world is turned upside down. Gabriel has been found wandering the streets of New York. Suffering from memory loss due to a brain tumor, he is reduced to sitting in a stupor, unable to communicate and unable to remember the people and places he loved.

As his parents struggle to reach their son, Henry stumbles across Dr. Dianne Daly, a music therapist who has had impressive results with other memory loss patients. Together, they are determined to help Gabriel recover some of his memories and some kind of life.

As the movie unfolds, you begin to see the real love that Henry has, and has always had, for his son. What seems to awaken Gabriel is the music that he loved in the time before his tragedies. As his father learns to appreciate and embrace this music himself, miracles began to happen. There are such tender moments between father and son that I promise you will need to keep the kleenex handy!

Everyone will love the music, but you will also love the touching story of second chances and the undying love that we all have for our children. Seeing the story from the point of view of both the teen and the parent made me evaluate the way I want to raise my children. It's easy to feel like they need to follow our paths, and do what we expect them to do without question, because of course, we are so much wiser. This movie will show us all that we need to try and be a little gentler and more open minded as we help our kids navigate their way through life. Sometimes when we throw the hammer down, we don't take the time to think about their feelings or what they are experiencing at the moment. Relationships are fragile, but all our children really want is our love and acceptance of who they really are. Henry was blessed with a second chance to make that happen. I promise you that if you watch this movie, you will hug your kids a little tighter, and maybe start to see them for who they really are.....and that will be ok with you.

Recommended by Donna Nichols