August Rush

A born conductor with an ear that hears like no other, August Rush, is a boy and a film you must see. Raised in an orphanage for boys, we are introduced to August when he is still Evan. He has no desire to be adopted because he knows his parents are out there looking for him; and somehow the music he hears and the stars above are his guidepost to them and to him. We get a glimpse of his parents--how they met and how they parted and we ache for them. We see the incredible genius of this boy wonder as he hears music in everything around him. He leaves his boyhood home mesmerized by a prepubescient, African American guitar player playing in the middle of Washington Square in NY City. It's the tale of--if you want something badly enough and you have the talent--you will be led to the place you were meant to be. Through a series of circumstances Evan (August) comes in touch with Robin Williams a caring, throw away kid once himself who teaches, protects, and collects half the take of the musical kids under his care including the African American guitar player who Evan (August) follows home (an old, usused theater). Evan becomes Williams personal project and he names him August Rush after a bus logo that passes them by--he sees his talent and wants to profit off of it. After a series of circumstances August ends up at Julliard (you have to suspend your disbelieve in how he gets there) with the chance to conduct his own symphony. Through his music he ultimately gets what he really wants--the parents he always knew were there. Inspiring as it is poignant, run don't walk to this fabulous, feel good film.

Making Connections: 2 Degrees of Separation

What a wild day! I'm sitting on the bus across from an African American man that I recognize to be the same person who I met in the unemployment office 2 years ago. He's Zaid Abdul (can't recall his entire name) but he used to play for the Sonics. When I met him 2 years ago he was looking for a job as a counselor but he was also just starting to write a book about his life.

In my typical outgoing fashion, I say "sir, are you the same person I met in the unemployment office 2 years ago"....and is that the finished copy of the book you were writing about your life? He nods in agreement.

He's knows the bus driver and as he's walking off the bus mentions that he needs to find someone to write the music to a poem in his book. I yell after him, I know someone!

I talk to the bus driver who turns out to be this very interested dude who also is a playwright and also needs someone to write music for his plays.

Now for the most bizarre part. I call my friend up who writes music....she hasn't really done much with it yet, but it's what she does really well just not for a living. I tell her the story. She stops me and says "Lynn, I have Zaid's book and not only that M. knows him". That's her partner. "What", I say? How is this possible. Apparently he wrote most of his book at the library where M. works.

"So", I say to her, "when are you going to call him..this is just too big of a coincidence to pass up". "Tomorrow", she says. "Cool", I say. I can hardly wait to get the call back that she did it.