A tryst between a concert cellist (Keri Russell) and a rocker (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) begets music-prodigy August, who's raised in an orphanage and eventually tries to find his parents. Kirsten Sheridan, who's the daughter of Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot), and who co-wrote In America, had her actors practice playing their instruments. ''I would see Freddie [Highmore], and I was like, ''I don't even want to hear you complain!'' Russell says. ''I could fake guitar any day of the week. You try faking the cello!''

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