Songcatcher [DVD] [2000]

In the Appalachian mountains of 1907, a musicologist arrives to record the Scottish and Irish folksongs that the locals have preserved for generations. She soon finds herself getting involved in other ways, including helping them with their struggles with the coal mining companies, and falling in love with a rough local musician, Tom.

Maggie Greenwald's atmospheric Songcatcher comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that, though not anamorphic, does preserve the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. English, Spanish, and French subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a commentary track from various members of the cast and crew, a behind-the-scenes featurette, a theatrical trailer, and a music-only track that highlights the film's distinctive musical performances. The film may have failed to reach a wide portion of the moviegoing public, but this DVD does everything it can to rectify that situation.