Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Drama

The Song of Names (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Song of Names (2019) movie poster

The Song of Names is a 2019 drama directed by François Girard, starring Catherine McCormack as Helen Simmonds, Stanley Townsend and Amy Sloan. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes and earned $1.1 million worldwide. Critics gave it 39% on Rotten Tomatoes and 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.

IMDb rating
6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
39%
worldwide gross
$1.1M
Echo Score
57
Loading streaming availability…
The Song of Names (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 53m (113 min)
Director
François Girard
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Song of Names About?

The premise of The Song of Names without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A young boy develops a close relationship with a talented Polish violinist, but the musician’s family mysteriously disappears. Years later, the boy, now a man, seeks to uncover the truth behind the violinist’s vanishing, leading him on a journey filled with loss, friendship, and the profound impact of music across generations. The search reveals a deeply personal and poignant story.

The Song of Names Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • year 1951
  • friendship between boys
  • boy violinist
  • teenage boy
  • child prodigy
  • musician
  • violinist
  • world war two
  • flashback
  • friend
  • friendship
  • violin
+38 more
  • disappearance
  • jew
  • jewish
  • refugee
  • concert
  • bicycle
  • rain
  • london england
  • voice over dialogue
  • 21 year old
  • immigrant
  • radio announcer
  • classical music
  • backstage
  • father son relationship
  • gagliano the violin
  • audience
  • orchestra
  • concert hall
  • prologue
  • flash forward
  • taxi
  • kiss
  • newcastle england
  • train
  • suitcase
  • tyneside england
  • music competition
  • clarinet player
  • cellist
  • pianist
  • girl
  • bowing
  • memory
  • reference to fritz kreisler
  • music teacher
  • watching someone
  • being watched
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

The Song of Names Cast & Characters

Catherine McCormack leads the cast as Helen Simmonds, with Stanley Townsend as Gilbert Simmonds and Amy Sloan as Enid Simmonds. Directed by François Girard; 13 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Song of Names

· 9 more
From the director

More from François Girard

More films directed by François Girard, best-rated first: Boychoir, Silk, The Metropolitan Opera: The Flying Dutchman and Hochelaga, Land of Souls.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Song of Names Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Song of Names 39% on Rotten Tomatoes and 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 57/100, strongest in sensory experience (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).

57 /100

The Song of Names Echo Score Breakdown

The Song of Names delivers a visually appealing but narratively uneven experience. It balances refined cinematography and a resonant musical score against a puzzle-box structure that some critics found overly complicated and occasionally inert. Viewers praised moments of profound emotional nuance and authentic period detail, yet several noted that character depth and narrative momentum waver as the story unfolds. Ultimately, the film’s intermittent impact yields a mixed but thoughtfully crafted work.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 65

    In terms of art and craft, The Song of Names presents refined visual compositions and framing, with reviewers acknowledging its fluid camerawork and understated color palette. Some critics found the episodic structure to impede momentum, and occasional staging choices felt overly cautious. User accounts highlighted the film’s elegant production design but noted moments of awkward scene transitions. Overall, the direction and cinematography deliver consistent visual appeal despite sporadic pacing concerns.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    In terms of character and emotion, performances were generally lauded for their restraint and subtlety, with several viewers describing the acting as soulful and authentic. Critics, however, observed that few characters achieve full dimensionality, leaving emotional stakes underdeveloped. While the ensemble delivers credible portrayals, the film’s subdued depth occasionally undermines character engagement and emotional resonance overall.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, the film employs a non-linear, puzzle-box structure that several critics and audience members found cumbersome and unevenly paced. The three-era narrative yields intriguing historical context but often interrupts narrative momentum, with key revelations diminishing subsequent tension. Consequently, the plot maintains intermittent engagement but lacks sustained coherence and forward drive.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    In terms of sensory experience, The Song of Names features a resonant musical score and authentic period sound design that several reviewers praised for enhancing emotional atmosphere. The violin solos received particular acclaim for their rich tonal clarity, and the film’s visual style incorporates an understated palette that complements its sober mood. Overall, the auditory and visual cohesion contributes significantly to the film’s affective impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    In terms of rewatch factor, the film’s thoughtful craftsmanship and thematic depth offer some appeal on subsequent viewings, particularly through its musical sequences and period detail. However, the intricate plot structure and subdued emotional progression may reduce incentive for repeat viewing. As a result, The Song of Names maintains modest replay value with select memorable scenes.

Plot

The Song of Names Plot Summary

What happens in The Song of Names from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the aftermath of World War II, 9-year-old Dovidl Rapoport finds himself orphaned in Poland, grappling with the profound shattering of his childhood due to the horrific losses he has endured. Amidst the rubble and ruin, a flicker of hope shines through as his extraordinary talent on the violin is discovered. The compassionate Simmonds family, moved by his tragic circumstances, invites Dovidl into their home in England, where he is affectionately renamed David. Growing up alongside their son, Martin Simmonds, David’s fervent love for music becomes a soothing salve for his deeply wounded spirit.

Full summary

The whole story of The Song of Names, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Song of Names Box Office

The Song of Names grossed $1.1 million worldwide. $1.1 million came from the US and Canada and $63,603 (6%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.1M

US & Canada
$1.1M
International
$63.6K
US & Canada 94% Rest of the world 6%
Videos

The Song of Names Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

THE SONG OF NAMES | Official Trailer (2019)
  • Clip The Song of Names Clip | TIFF 2019
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Song of Names?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What instrument does Dovidl Rapoport play?

Details

The Song of Names Also Known As

22 alternative titles, including “逝者如歌” and “Le prodige inconnu”.

Also known as
  • 逝者如歌
  • Le prodige inconnu
  • La cançó dels noms oblidats
  • Песня имен
  • 이름들로 만든 노래
  • Le chant des noms
  • Песента на имената
  • Píseň jmen
  • La canción de los nombres olvidados
  • שיר השמות
  • O Cântico dos Nomes
  • A nevek dala
+10 more
  • 名字之歌
  • Η Αναζήτηση
  • Pieśń imion
  • The Song of Names - La musica della memoria
  • Cântecul numelor uitate
  • Пісня імен
  • 天才ヴァイオリニストと消えた旋律
  • Pieseň mien
  • บทเพลงผู้สาปสูญ
  • La cançó dels noms

Seen The Song of Names?

FAQ

The Song of Names FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Song of Names, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Song of Names?

The Song of Names runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).

When was The Song of Names released?

The Song of Names was released on December 25, 2019.

Who directed The Song of Names?

The Song of Names was directed by François Girard.

More films by François Girard

Who is in the cast of The Song of Names?

The Song of Names stars Catherine McCormack as Helen Simmonds, Stanley Townsend as Gilbert Simmonds and Amy Sloan as Enid Simmonds, among 13 credited actors.

How much did The Song of Names make at the box office?

The Song of Names grossed $1.1 million worldwide ($1.1 million domestic, $63,603 international).

How is The Song of Names rated?

The Song of Names has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, 51 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.

Does The Song of Names have a post-credit scene?

No. The Song of Names has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app