User Reviews

Okay, the movie does move slowly - no car chases, no shootouts, no pyrotechnics. And it may be accurate to say it moves slowly even for a slow movie. And the actors are actual musicians, not actors, so this movie won't produce any best actor awards, either. But the story does unfurl with a grace and charm that I found fascinating. It especially resonated with me, though, for a couple of reasons.

First, the story of Kentucky families moving to Ohio during the depression because there were no jobs in Kentucky is the story of my family. My grandfather had not had a full time job in ten years when he moved to Ohio in 1939 for a job with a General Motors supplier in Dayton (Moraine Products, I believe; it certainly went by that name later, although even later it morphed into Delco Moraine and then into Delphi). He found a house to rent in a small village 25 miles west of Dayton, then brought his wife and eleven children over. Grandpa stayed with GM until he retired at age 65, and went on to live almost 30 more years. Like Charlie, he was never a huge success - just another blue collar worker anonymous to all but his family - but he was able to live comfortably in Ohio until the day he passed away. Like Charlie he never stopped missing Kentucky, and up until he became unable to drive, he made many trips back. His last request to me was to take him back to Kentucky one more time - just a few months before he died. I was afraid the trip might end badly and said no, but I have long regretted my refusal.

What I also realized halfway through the movie was that I was watching it on the anniversary of my father's death. My father hated being called a briarhopper, hated Ohio and left as soon as he could, but instead of stopping at Kentucky he moved even further south and, deciding he liked warm weather much better than snow, never returned to live in Kentucky, although he often talked about it and, like grandpa, often returned to visit.

Anyway, the movie's portrayal of farm, of farm chores, of the importance of family, and of the economic necessity that forces some people to leave a home they truly love was all realistically conveyed. The music was a wonderful accompaniment to all that.

As others have said, no pyrotechnics, car chases, blood, sex scenes, etc. I loved watching the movie. I'm on west coast and we don't have fireflies (lightning bugs) and memorable scene with Charlie playing at dusk and there were fireflies in the background. Not even Disney or Marvel has that. From the bare feet to the way everyone treated each other, dealt with death of a child, literate mom, illiterate dad, etc. . . All of it from a simpler / harder time. IMO, you have to be a grown up to appreciate the movie.

The core of the story couldn't be simpler. The scenario is rural Kentucky during the Depression. Charlie, a pre-teen boy is interested in bluegrass and learning the art of fiddling from his elders and neighbors in his spare time. The family moves to Ohio where there are job opportunities for Charlie's father. In another time frame, Charlie is a grown man in Ohio and longs for returning to his roots and his birthplace in Kentucky. As for the title, "mountain minor" is a way to tune the banjo used in bluegrass.

Director Dale Farmer has woven a fascinating film from this story casting the main roles with professional bluegrass musicians like banjoist and fiddler Dan Gellert, singer and banjoist Elizabeth LaPrelle and singer and guitarist Ma Crow. As the director (a musician himself) remarked, "musicians would be better actors than actors make musicians" The idea works like a charm. The professionals make beautiful music, do their acting chores flawlessly and the wittily scripted dialogues touch upon the magic of folk music and its relations with one's family, life and roots. The ending is an improvised, exhilarating family hoedown. I enjoyed every minute of this movie.

This movie is a sweet homage to a lost way of life that was not idyllic but it had its good points. This movie celebrates the music that brought the people together as they lived their lives in the beautiful, hard Appalachian hollows. Yes it's kind of slow but just sit back and listen and watch. Enjoy the slow pace.

Reviewers either raved or despised this tale of family roots in the backwoods of Kentucky. Spanning generations of musicians - farmers - blue collar workers all held together by their love of "mountain music" and kindred spirit. A good picture of depression era living and leaving to go the big city for a better living. Yes, LOTS of Bluegrass fiddling, old time songs and country ways. Very good original musical performances. Beautiful scenery. Yes, the acting was very basic and not "professional". The performers never pretended to be. If the viewer closes out the urban noise, then one can travel* into another time and space. I would guess that most of us, if we look back into our pasts and family histories we could tell similar tales. *warning: no special effects here.

The wonderful mountain music is highlighted by the scenery and beauty of Appalachia, and the importance of family tradition. Charlie's fiddle may be the 'MacGuffin' that drives the story of the Abner family forward, but in many ways the music IS the story. Hop in the back of the pick-up, and let this multi-talented cast take you on a nostalgic trip down that ole dirt road. You can't help but tap your foot along the way.

We enjoyed the story and a time way back then told in an easy flow of life, conversation, and music.

Folksy and amateurish, it may appeal to a limited number of people who lick up any Appalachian flavored gravy set before them. The film would be better with professional actors. Also, the recordings sound a bit rough, even for old time standards.

The old time community at large would do well to get out of the habit of presenting music through nostalgia driven themes. Many old time traditional musicians struggle with the idea put forth over and over again that Appalachian music is something to be viewed through a lens of re-enactment or sentimental summoning of the past.

Appalachian music and culture is not sentimental. It is a vital and relevant culture that deserves a better platform than this movie gives it. I apologize if this seems like a harsh review for the good folks involved, but it is time to move away from the familiar tropes that do a disservice to Appalachian art, music, and culture. -doc

The acting was independent. The music, playing and story were awesome! Must watch for anyone in Appachia, or anyone who isn't sure what that means, or anyone who appreciates fantastic music!

Like others, we had high hopes based on the awards. The subject matter of this film has some gravity. That's about the only good thing I can say, and the authenticity this film provided did not justify its making. It was written, directed and acted like a small town high school production. Scenery was indeed nice from time to time but marred in a few spots by specks of dirt on the camera lens. The music was great in places but felt gratuitously crammed into too many scenes as filler. Bluegrass fatigue is the result. This film could have been so much more. Instead, it misses the mark it sets for itself and becomes barely watchable.

If you like the mountain music you'll likely love the movie... if not... you probably will critique the acting and plot pretty harshly. In my humble opinion the acting is pretty good for having no big Hollywood names in it. I happen to like the music so I gave it a ten. I don't know how factually correct it is for the depression era mountain people but I think it's entertaining. I kind of like the way it moves back and forth in time with all of the actors being very gifted musicians as both younger kids and older adults.

A movie depicting the hardwork on a Kentucky farm mixed with the freedom to learn to play and to explore one's feelings through music and dance.

Charlie grows up on his grandparents farm until his father finally is offered a job at GM in Dayton, Ohio. Although we know his destination, we know little of the exact location of the family farm. But that's not important as his roots are bound in the daily chores and nightly tunes taught to him by his grandfather.

Not a spoiler as it's depicted in the trailer, when Charlie is a grandparent, he tries to take over the homestead.

This is a touching, real story of thousands of families in a simpler time when people valued and respected family and tradition. The music is beautiful, the actors are convincing, the directing and edits happened without me thinking about who was behind it more that the reality of it.

I recommend the movie and will share it with my family and friends that will be moved by it.

Nothing happens. No plot twists no drama no tough spots to get out of nothing to celebrate. Nothing happens the entire movie.

I am very sorry about this movie for which I had a lot of expectations. I read it had won many awards, it was about how appalachian music was passed through generations, etc. However the writing is terrible and the acting makes you cringe. I gather they chose the actors based on their music abilities and not their acting, but if you are going to do that, do a narrated documentary! I applaud the effort but unfortunately the result is not good.

Music is great if you like old-timey mountain music. The acting is stiff, the writing/dialogue poor. Scenery is nice. The plot is plodding.

If you love roots music, you'll enjoy the music.

If you love good movies, you'll not enjoy this movie.

Farmer made a major error in not casting professional actors, and he made another error in not using professional writers and editors. The result is poor acting, poor writing with no plot, and poor editing that lets individual musical pieces go on way too long. Less is more in many cases.

I like roots music, and I like very much human interest stories free of the pap and stupidity of typical action flicks or overdrawn melodramas that are primarily a star vehicle for a particular actor or actors. I was hopeful this film would live up to its promise, but it did not.

Compare this film with other country or roots or pop biopics like "Ray" and "Walk the Line". There is no comparison.

I'm sure this film was cheap and easy to produce, being run by amateurs. But I give it a 5 and that's only because of the music and the human interest angle, but no real story.