The film co-starred Dermot Mulroney, Hector Elizondo, Mary Kay Place and Ione Skye.
The film featured cameo appearances by Robert Picardo (who would later find fame as The Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager) and Maryedith Burrell.
Burrell had previously played the character of Helen Buckman, mother to Julie Buckman in the television version of the film Parenthood; in the film version, Julie was played by Martha Plimpton.
Samantha is a hugely talented violinist who discovers on her 21st birthday that she was left on the steps of her parents, Marilyn and Walter's home and subsequently adopted.
Ultimately she locates her birth parents, Neil and Charlotte Otto, who are emotionally cold towards her but, who are professional concert musicians, a harpist and a flautist.