| THE CHORUS Les Choristes |
 2004 - France / Switzerland / GermanyDirector: Christophe Barratier - Reviewed by Vickie
Despite the fact that the film follows the oft-used forward-thinking-teacher-changes-the-lives-of-troubled-students-through-music formula (think: Music of the Heart, Mr. Holland’s Opus and even Sister Act 2), Les Choristes is superbly realized, beautifully acted and bears the distinction of being the TIFF film that had me sobbing the most in 2004. Set in the 1940s, the story follows Monsieur Mathieu (Gérard Jugnot), a mild-mannered teacher who’s sent to Fond de l’Étang—a boys’ boarding school with a student body made up largely of delinquents and orphans. His charges are rambunctious, outspoken, daring and (often) disciplinary challenges. The school’s humorless headmaster (François Berléand) believes in ruling with an iron fist, but Mathieu has other ideas. A closet composer, Mathieu decides to try to rein in his students through music, and soon has the boys auditioning for spots in his choir. Some are naturals, some are awful and one in particular (Jean-Baptiste Maunier) is genius. The group’s struggles, both with the school administration and their own deep-rooted problems, make up the remainder of the moving film. Christophe Barratier makes his directorial debut with Les Choristes (which he also scripted) and, if audience reaction in Toronto is any indication, he’s going to have an international hit on his hands. He deftly reimagines some stock characters (the bully, the lost little one, the lonely widow) and presents them in a new, interesting way that avoids convention. The characters are wildly appealing and engaging, and elicit heartfelt support from the audience. Just try *not* to well up when the choir takes the stage for the first time. I dare you! Jugnot is a lovable screen presence, and manages to successfully merge the personalities of a hapless schlub and a steely educator. You can’t help but root for him. Equally great are the young actors playing the students. Especially affecting is wee Maxence Perrin, who plays Pépinot – a cherubic little boy who eagerly awaits the arrival of his father (who was killed in WWII) every Saturday and who will wring the most tears out of you, guaranteed. Yes, Les Choristes may recycle some plot devices from other films, and it may not be the most original story ever told, but it manages to be a fabulously touching movie that doesn’t just give you a warm fuzzy feeling, but wraps its musical arms around you and gives you a bear hug of wonderfulness. |
|
Agree? Disagree? Go to the Forum! | Back to Currently Playing | Back to Toronto 2004 |
|
Home
| Currently Playing | For
Rent | Video Obsession ©2004 Moviepie e-mail us |
Every year at the Toronto International Film Festival, one film stands
out from the rest and stamps an emotional brand on my heart that never
goes away. One year it was Life is Beautiful. Another year it
was 