Quand j'étais chanteur (2006)

Alain Moreau sings for one of the few remaining dance-bands in Clermont-Ferrand. Though something of an idol amongst his female audience he has a melancholic awareness of the slow ... See full summary »

Director:

Xavier Giannoli

Writer:

Xavier Giannoli

Stars:

Gérard Depardieu, Cécile De France, Mathieu Amalric

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gérard Depardieu	...	Alain Moreau
Cécile De France	...	Marion
Mathieu Amalric	...	Bruno
Christine Citti	...	Michèle
Patrick Pineau	...	Daniel
Jean-Pierre Gos	...	Le maire
Antoine de Prekel	...	Martin
Monique Gailleurd	...	Organisateur Soirée
Alain Kruger	...	Médecin
Patrick Bordier	...	Responsable Palais
Jean-Paul Combes	...	Patron Aquarius
Serge Godenaire	...	Maitre d'hôtel
Marie Kremer	...	Laurence
Catherine Salviat	...	Mme Laville
Cécile Auclert	...	Blonde

Storyline

Alain Moreau sings for one of the few remaining dance-bands in Clermont-Ferrand. Though something of an idol amongst his female audience he has a melancholic awareness of the slow disappearance of that audience and of his advancing years. He is completely knocked off balance when he meets strikingly attractive and much younger businesswoman Marion. She seems distant and apparently otherwise involved but soon shows quiet signs of reciprocating his interest. A brief dalliance turns into something much more complicated and he starts to employ - indeed monopolise - her services as an estate agent by announcing he suddenly must move house.

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Plot Keywords:

singer | orchestra | clermont ferrand | fading star | 2000s | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes love can be found in the most unexpected places (DVD Australia)

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Europa Corp. [fr]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

13 September 2006 (France)

Also Known As:

Chanson d'amour

Filming Locations:

Auvergne, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp, Rectangle Productions, France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Features Stromboli (1950)

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Soundtracks

"Save The Last Dance For Me"
Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
Performed by Gérard Depardieu)

User Reviews

surprisingly enjoyable

After seeing the trailer I didn't expect to enjoy this movie. Lesson: don't judge a movie by its trailer.

Although it is a fairly corny affair, the setting is an unusual one, the performances and production values are high, and the script unexpectedly funny.

However, without a star of considerable magnitude the entire soufflé would fall flat. Fortunately the great Depardieu is on hand, his giant presence matched by his lightness of touch. It's curious how the old American lions - de Niro, Pacino and the others - don't seem to be able to both play their image while sending it up at the same time: they only manage one thing or the other. In this modest movie, Depardieu is both himself and something of a parody of himself. The result is two-for-the-price-of-one enjoyment.

The songs he sings - very well - are all genuine French pop songs which themselves border on self-parody, in the way that so many country-and western songs do - a seam of humour richly mined by Altman in Nashville. There's nothing so subtle here: Quand J'Etais Chanteur is so loosely woven that close scrutiny would unravel it. But for all that, it's surprisingly enjoyable.