August Rush

Released on November 21, 2007, August Rush is a magical-realist drama that celebrates the universal power of music to connect souls across time and distance. Directed by Kirsten Sheridan, the film tells the story of Evan Taylor (Freddie Highmore), a musically gifted orphan who believes that if he can just "hear the music" and perform it, his parents will find him. Unbeknownst to him, his parents—a cellist (Keri Russell) and a rock singer (Jonathan Rhys Meyers)—were separated by a cruel twist of fate years earlier. As Evan travels to New York City, he falls under the wing of "Wizard" (Robin Williams), a charismatic street musician who gives him the stage name August Rush. The production is renowned for its immersive sound design and an Academy Award-nominated original song, "Raise It Up," which underscores the film's central theme that music is a rhythmic pulse found in everything from the wind to city traffic. A modern-day fairy tale, August Rush is a poignant exploration of family, destiny, and the belief that hope can be found in every note of a song.