The Singer (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 & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gérard Depardieu	...	Alain Moreau
Cécile de France	...	Marion
Mathieu Amalric	...	Bruno
Christine Citti	...	Michèle
Patrick Pineau	...	Daniel
Christophe	...	Christophe
Jean-Pierre Gos	...	Philippe Chevalier
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

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:

reference to elton john | implied sex | title based on song | romantic relationship | orchestra | 

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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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Did You Know?

Connections

Features Stromboli (1950)

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Soundtracks

Endicott

User Reviews

a bittersweet love story, punctuated by music

'Quand j'étais chanteur' (or 'The Singer') is a lovely, funny, bittersweet film which gives Gérard Depardieu an excellent leading role as cynical, arrogant, washed-up singer Alain Moreau, who sings love tunes for middle-aged lady dancers who adore him. He meanwhile searches for love and finds something akin to it in the person of damaged, deep, prickly Marion (Cécile De France), many years his junior and out of his league.

Depardieu, even approaching his sixties, brings a mix of bravado, charm, and vulnerability to the character of Moreau. Sometimes you can see where he is coming from, sometimes you sympathise, sometimes you laugh, sometimes you are irritated - a well rounded character, believable, and just that little bit broken from a lost chance to rebuild a marriage, the idea that he just might be a nicer guy than the ladykiller he has become.

With Mathieu Amalric as Bruno, friend, estate agent, adversary, and Christine Citti as Michèle, former wife and backing singer, muse and manager, 'The Singer' is an intimate portrait of where life can take you if you just stop and let it. It does not shy away from poignancy and the ubiquitous happy ending, but on the way it makes its creations real and their problems and preoccupations realistic.

The songs, incidentally, are sung by Depardieu and although the lyrics may be lacking in style (certainly in their translation), the delivery and ambiance proves there may well be life in the old dog yet, making it understandable why Moreau has become the obsession and fixation of lonely single, divorced, or widowed women. But under the gloss and the stagecraft is someone just as lonely, just as envious of the passing of time, and this is the ultimate strength of the film, making that obvious.

Details

Official Sites:

Europa Corp. [France]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

13 September 2006 (France)

Also Known As:

El cantante

Filming Locations:

Auvergne, France

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,205,575

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp, Rectangle Productions, France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1