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

Inspired by the film A Cage of Nightingales (1945).

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Goofs

The actor who plays Pierre Morhange as an adult has brown eyes (at around 31 mins), but the actor who plays Pierre Morhange as a boy has blue eyes (at around 23 mins).

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Quotes

Clément Mathieu: [they've found the stolen money and a harmonica] You know Mondain was expelled because they thought he'd stolen the money.
Corbin: No, sir.
Clément Mathieu: No, that's right you didn't. But now I've told you. So what were you going to do with this money?
Corbin: If I tell you, do you promise not to tell anyone?
Clément Mathieu: Promise.
Corbin: I was going to use it to buy...
Clément Mathieu: To buy what?
Corbin: My Montgolfier balloon.

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Connections

Featured in Les Choristes: Le making of (2004)

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Soundtracks

Vois sur ton chemin
Lyrics by Christophe Barratier
Music by Bruno Coulais
Soliste Jean-Baptiste Maunier
Avec la participation de la chorale Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint Marc, Dirigée Nicolas Porte
Orchestra: Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra-Sif 309, Conductor Deyan Pavlov'
© 2004 Warner Bros. Records,WEA Music (p) 2004 Galatée Films

User Reviews

A delicious movie It's just beautiful..

A delicious movie. Something wonderful is going to happen and I am not talking just about the characters of the movie but the spectators. It's so moving and at the same time it is not a sentimental one. The freedom, the excitement, the amazing charm of discovering the life through the music... I don't know French and I can say that the soundtrack is so international that you don't need to understand the words to feel its power, to receive the message...

Very often people agree or disagree with their opinions about a film... I watched the movie with a representative number of persons and all of them found the movie very recommendable and beautiful.

All of us were children and the magic of that unforgettable period of our lives is reflected in this great film.

8 out of 10...

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