La tourneuse de pages (2006)

After failing the audition to a prestigious music school because of the rude behavior of one of the testers, a girl takes revenge by gaining the trust of the same woman some years later and becoming indispensable for her.

Director:

Denis Dercourt

Writers:

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

Stars:

Catherine Frot, Déborah François, Pascal Greggory

6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

The girl Mélanie Prouvost is the beloved daughter of the butchers Mrs. Prouvost and Mr. Prouvost. She is an aspirant pianist and her parents make her application to the Conservatory. During the entrance exam, she begins with a great performance but she is distracted by one member of the admittance board, Ariane, and she fails. Years later, Mélanie is a teenager that has just finished high-school and she is accepted as intern of the law firm owned by the prominent lawyer Mr. Fouchécourt. Mélanie overhears that he needs someone to take care of his son Tristan and she offers to the position. She needs to travel to another town and when she arrives at the manor, she is welcomed by Ariane, who is the wife of Mr. Fouchécourt. She does not recognize Mélanie and soon she becomes Ariane's page turner, in the beginning of her carefully planned revenge against the woman that destroyed her dreams.

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Plot Keywords:

breasts | lesbian subtext | fondling breast | f rated | page turner | 

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Taglines:

Revenge is a dish best served cold

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

9 August 2006 (France)

Also Known As:

La cambiadora de páginas

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,844, 23 March 2007, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$206,647, 17 June 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

Diaphana Films,France 3 Cinéma,Région Ile-de-France

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Visa d'exploitation en France # 11609.

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Goofs

During the radio concert at one point a hand can be seen reflected in the piano beating time, despite the fact that the group is shown to be performing without a conductor. In the subsequent shot, showing the opposite side of the piano, the dolly track, and the foot of a camera operator sitting on the dolly can be seen reflected in the piano.

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Connections

Referenced in Rolf De Heer (2008)

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Soundtracks

Prélude en ré mineur
Music by Johann Sebastian Bach (as Jean Sébastien Bach)
Performed by Jérôme Lemonnier, piano

User Reviews

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.