After her university refuses to grant her a promotion, musicologist Dr. Lily Penleric (Janet McTeer) heads to Appalachia to record 16^th century Scottish and Irish folk songs that the earthy mountain people have kept alive for generations. While in Appalachia, Lily joins her sister and the locals in their struggle against the coal companies and falls in love with gritty musician Tom Bledsoe (Aidan Quinn). This turn-of-the-century drama features haunting ballads performed by Iris DeMent.