The Chorus (2004)

The new teacher at a severely administered boys' boarding school works to positively affect the students' lives through music.

Director:

Christophe Barratier

Writers:

Georges Chaperot, René Wheeler

Stars:

Gérard Jugnot, François Berléand, Jean-Baptiste Maunier

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gérard Jugnot	...	Clément Mathieu
François Berléand	...	Headmaster Rachin
Kad Merad	...	Chabert
Jean-Paul Bonnaire	...	La Père Maxence
Marie Bunel	...	Violette Morhange
Jean-Baptiste Maunier	...	Pierre Morhange
Maxence Perrin	...	Pépinot
Grégory Gatignol	...	Mondain
Thomas Blumenthal	...	Corbin
Cyril Bernicot	...	Le Querrec
Simon Fargeot	...	Boniface
Théodule Carré-Cassaigne	...	Leclerc
Philippe du Janerand	...	Monsieur Langlois
Carole Weiss	...	La Comtesse
Erick Desmarestz	...	Le Docteur Dervaux

Storyline

Fond de l'Etang is a boarding school for troubled boys located in the French countryside. In the mid-twentieth century, it is run by the principal M. Rachin, an egotistical disciplinarian whose official unofficial mantra for the school is "action - reaction", meaning that there will be severe consequences for any boy out of line. This approach does not seem to be working as the boys as a collective are an unruly bunch. In turn, the teachers don't teach, but are always watching out for the next subversive act from the boys. January 15, 1949 marks the arrival to the school of the new supervisor, M. Clément Mathieu, a middle-aged man who is grasping at finding his place in life after a series of failed endeavors. Although he does find the boys an unruly lot, Mathieu does not believe in the "action - reaction" policy, and as such, butts heads with Rachin while secretly undermining the policy. Slowly, Mathieu's approach of trying to match the discipline to the crime does have a positive ...

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Plot Keywords:

france | boy wears eyeglasses | boy | school | teacher | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some language/sexual references and violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 2004, this was the #1 movie at the French box office, with more than 8.6 million admissions.

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Goofs

During the auditions, Mathieu sends pupils to the right or to the left showing the direction by his hand. When directing Ricoeur, who sings "I've got tobacco in my pouch", to the left (at 33:06 to 33:07) he first moves his hand to his right, which some cite as an error while others cite it as a flourish, but then sweeps or hooks his hand left.

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Quotes

Clément Mathieu: Never say never. Something's always worth trying.

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Connections

Spoofed in Un point c'est tout! (2009)

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Soundtracks

Morhange
Music by Bruno Coulais
Orchestra: Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra-Sif 309, Conductor Deyan Pavlov'
© 2004 Warner Bros. Records,WEA Music (p) 2004 Galatée Films

User Reviews

Magical

Spoilers

Taking France by storm this summer, Les choristes purportedly led to a surge in applications to join choirs all over the country. The magic is unquestionably in the music, but I'll come to that later.

The success of Les choristes as a film (with or without the divine music) lies in its not trying to be anything more than what it is, a simple tale that opens up to you instead of manipulating you. You'll find neither heart-breaking poignancy nor rousing heroism. Within the short duration of a school term or two he spent with the somewhat notorious boarding school, teacher and musician Clement Mathieu had his modest ambition fulfilled, of having a choir sing the music he wrote, then moved along to a continuously modest life of teaching and music. Talented protégé Pierre Morhange did achieve fame and success, but we have essentially been spared laboured scenes of Titanic struggles or exuberant jubilation. To ensure that I'm not misleading towards the other extreme, let me hasten to add that Les choristes does touch our hearts. It does this gently, sensibly.

But in the end, it's the music. Purely the celestial beauty of the music alone will brings tears to the appreciative audiences' eyes. The story is touching. The character are likable. But the ultimate magic is the choir and boy soprano Jean-Baptiste Maunier chosen from two thousand auditions. Such a magical choice.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Facebook

Country:

France Switzerland Germany

Language:

French

Release Date:

17 March 2004 (France)

Also Known As:

The Chorus

Filming Locations:

Château de Ravel, Puy-de-Dôme, France

Box Office

Budget:

EUR5,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,355, 16 January 2005

Gross USA:

$3,635,164

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$88,385,944

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vega Film, Banque Populaire Images 4, CP Medien AG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1