La tourneuse de pages (2006)

Director:

Denis Dercourt

Writers:

Denis Dercourt (scenario and dialogue)
Jacques Sotty (collaboration)

Release Date:

9 August 2006 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama | Music | Thriller

Tagline:

Revenge is a dish best served cold

Plot:

Mélanie Prouvost, a ten-year-old butcher's daughter, is a gifted piano player. That is why her parents...

Plot Keywords:

Piano | Piano Player | Nanny | Audition | Family Relationships

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Catherine Frot	...	Ariane
Déborah François	...	Mélanie
Pascal Greggory	...	M. Fouchécourt
Clotilde Mollet	...	Virginie
Xavier De Guillebon	...	Laurent
Christine Citti	...	Mme Prouvost
Jacques Bonnaffé	...	M. Prouvost
Antoine Martynciow	...	Tristan
Julie Richalet	...	Mélanie enfant
Martine Chevallier	...	Mme Onfray
André Marcon	...	M. Werker
Arièle Butaux	...	Présentatrice radio
Michèle Ernou	...	Monique
Danièle Douet	...	Femme autographe
Mark Reed	...	Mc Guerman (as Marc Reed)

Also Known As:

The Page Turner (International: English title)
Turning Pages (Singapore: English title)

Runtime:

USA:85 min | France:85 min | Argentina:85 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | DTS

Certification:

Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:12 | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Argentina:13 | Germany:12 | Australia:PG | Sweden:7 | South Korea:15 | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Maison de Radio-France, Paris 16, Paris, France

Company:

Diaphana Films

Trivia:

Visa d'exploitation en France # 11609.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Melanie encourages Tristan to learn a specific Bach Prelude as a surprise for his father's return; at the actual concert, he plays something else (a composition for this movie, I believe).

Soundtrack:

Trio op. 67 no 2

The page has been turned

"LaTourneuse de pages" aka "The Page Turner", (2006) directed by Denis Dercourt is a clever, elegant, entertaining French psychological drama/revenge/thriller, short but satisfying. It was made by a writer/director who has been a professional musician, both a performer and a teacher, who knows and loves classical music and makes it a very important part of all his movies. Prélude en ré mineur by Johann Sebastian Bach and Shostakovich's opus 67, trio in E minor that sound in "The Page Turner" are marvelous.

The film brings to mind such excellent and diverse films as "The Piano Player ", "Notes on a Scandal", and "The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant" but it is very good on its own terms thanks to the pitch perfect performances by two main characters and supporting cast and exquisite subtlety in exploring the familiar subject of long awaited and perfectly executed revenge. 19 years old Belgian actress Déborah François gives an absolutely stunning performance as Mélanie Prouvost, a self-possessed, attractive, efficient, and well mannered young woman with a sweet quiet smile, refined soft voice, graceful movements, impeccable taste and appreciation for fine quality of things. Mélanie is very observant, smart, and it did not take her long to become an indispensable asset, a trusted page turner for her new boss, Ariane Fouchecour (Catherine Frot). Ariane is a renowned concert pianist who now performs in a trio and is vulnerable and fragile after having survived an auto crash. Little did Ariane know that the girl who had charmed the whole family with her tactfulness, efficiency, and loyalty, has a long memory that goes as far as ten years back when young Melanie (Julie Richalet also gave memorable performance as young Melanie) dreamed of becoming a famous pianist, tried to pass the Conservatory entrance exam with Ariane as a president of the jury. Melanie got distracted by Ariane having signed an autograph for a fan during her performance and failed the exam. She never touched the piano again and she never forgot the day and the person that had changed her life ...

Both actresses were outstanding, and François was a revelation in her only second role which is also her second award winning performance in the row. One of the reviewers mentions that she "almost out-Hupperts Isabelle Huppert" as the page turner. The gifted young actress justly deserves this praise. I hope that she has a great future ahead of her and I will be waiting for her following movies.