August Rush/ Evan (Freddie Highmore) is growing up in an orphanage. He swears he can hear the music of his parents, who he has never met; music is all around in the air. The other boys tease and are cruel, and eventually he runs away to New York to find his parents. He parents, an Irish singer in a band, Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and a cellist Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell) are looking for him and each other. Lyla's father (William Sadler) forced Lyla to leave when she wanted to stay with Connelly. He also told Lyla her son had perished in a car accident when he was born premature as a result. Evan is already past ten years of age, when Lyla's father tells her what he did.
After going to New York, Evan meets Wizard (Robin Williams) who runs a group of children who play music and beg for him. He is like a modern Fagan. From Wizar August learns guitar. He names Evan August Rush. Lyla has recruited the help of Richard Jeffries (Terrance Howard) from social services to help find her son. At a time when August is on the run, as the police are intervening in the operation of Wizard, he enters a church and meets a girl, Hope (Jamia Simone Nash). It is she that discovers that August is a prodigy. He learns quickly, and also writes music. He plays piano with a two minute lesson. He even plays the organ at the church. He gets into Juilliard as a result. The professor of his composition class is impressed. He is invited to conduct his own piece in Central Park as part of a concert
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August has believed all along that if enough people hear his music, his parents will find him. It all comes together.
The August Rush music is unique and exciting. Hope sings at the concert, and the music twirls around as if riding a circular wind. I highly recommend this movie. Even if just to list the the music. Lyla and Connelly also lay their unique brands of music.
