Wright, J. (Director). (2008). The Soloist. [Motion Picture]. Los Angeles, CA: DreamWorks.
A true story of how a chance meeting can change a life. A Los Angeles newspaper reporter discovers a brilliant and distracted street musician. In 2005, Steve Lopez is a journalist working for the L.A. Times. He is divorced and now works for his ex-wife, an editor. A biking accident lands Lopez in a hospital. One day, he hears a violin being played beautifully. Investigating, he encounters Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless schizophrenic, who is playing a violin. During the conversation that follows, Lopez learns that Ayers once attended Juilliard. Curious as to how a former student of such a prestigious school ended up on the streets, Lopez contacts Juilliard but learns that no record of Ayers graduating from it exists. Lopez soon realizes that he has no better story to write about. Luckily, he soon learns that Ayers did attend Juilliard, but dropped out after two years. Lopez finds and contacts Ayers’ sister, who tells him that Ayers was once a child prodigy, until he showed symptoms of schizophrenia at Juilliard. Unable to handle the voices, Ayers dropped out and ended up on the streets. The two form a unique friendship with a bond that transforms both their lives. See extensive curriculum guide at http://www.takepart.com/sites/default/files/The-Soloist-Educational-Resource-Guide.pdf