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As
Tess and Monica drive through the crop fields of central California,
Monica comments on their beauty. But when Tess asks her to take a
closer look, Monica sees the hardworking families, including many
young children, toiling over the crops in the hot sun. One such
family is the Morante clan. Patriarch Roberto works tirelessly
alongside his wife Elisa, his teenage son Tino, and younger children
Claudia and Miguel. They migrate with the season, always traveling
to the part of the country that is being harvested. One of their few
joys is the letter they receive each week from their grandmother.
Roberto is illiterate so he has Tino read the letter, though Tino
would rather be listening to classical music on the car radio. As
the Morantes settle in at the latest migrant camp, they meet Monica,
the church volunteer, Andrew, the camp supervisor, and Rafael, a
fellow migrant worker. At church on Sunday, Tino discovers the piano
and beings to play. Tess offers to be his music teacher. She teaches
Tino Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and he plays the
song feverishly all night long, attracting a crowd. Roberto is
furious to find that his son is late for work and, despite Tess
telling him that Tino is a musical genius, he insists Tino quit
thinking about playing music. Instead, with Monica's help Tino
completes an application to a local music academy and waits
patiently for a mailed reply. Roberto injures his back while working
in the field which forces him to visit the town doctor. He is told
to stay off his back, lest he do serious damage. Roberto knows,
however, that he must be able to work to support the family, and
Tino's contribution becomes all the more vital. Roberto is upset to
receive a letter of Tino's acceptance to the music academy, and
tears it up in haste. Later Tino finds out about the undelivered
letter, and, after he and his father fight, he decides to go to the
audition. At the same time Roberto's back finally gives out, so Tino
agrees to work twice as hard to pick up his father's slack. Because
of this he misses the audition and begins to accept his future as a
migrant worker. Tess reveals herself to Roberto as an angel and asks
him to put his trust in God and stop trying to control his son.
Roberto asks Tess to help him help Tino. Together they go to the
music academy, and persuade the professor in charge to give Tino
another chance to audition. Meanwhile in the fields Monica reveals
herself to Tino and tells him that God wouldn't gift him musically
and then not give him the opportunity to praise Him with that gift.
Since they are working on a Sunday, Rafael arranges for a priest to
give the workers communion. They encourage Tino to play for them but
his hands are blistered and he cannot. Roberto arrives to support
Tino, telling him that God will give him the strength. Tino begins
to play Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" and as the song
reverberates through the fields, the professor offers Tino a music
scholarship. At the same time, Andrew offers Roberto his job as
supervisor, a job that will be less physically demanding and allow
the family to stay in one location, near Tino's school.
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