Les choristes (2004)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Christophe Barratier

Writers:

Georges Chaperot (1945 story "La Cage aux rossignols") &
René Wheeler (1945 story "La Cage aux rossignols") ...

Release Date:

17 March 2004 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

School | Boarding School | Children | Choir | Supervisor

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Gérard Jugnot	...	Clément Mathieu
François Berléand	...	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

Also Known As:

The Chorus (UK) (USA)
Chorists (International: English title)
Die Kinder des Monsieur Mathieu (Germany)
The Choir (International: English title)
The Choir Boys (Singapore: English title)

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

France | Switzerland | Germany

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Zurich) | South Korea:All | Sweden:7 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Finland:K-7 | Germany:6 | Netherlands:MG6 | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Château de Ravel, Puy-de-Dôme, France

Company:

Vega Film

Trivia:

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

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): During the auditions, Mathieu sends pupils to the right or to the left showing the direction by his hand. One of the boys is sent to the left, but Mathieu's hand shows to the right.

Quotes:

Clément Mathieu: [Mathieu finds Pépinot sitting on the stairs] What are you doing down here?
Pépinot enfant: I don't have the right to go upstairs.
Clément Mathieu: What do you mean you don't have the right?
Pépinot enfant: I don't have any money.
Clément Mathieu: What?
Pépinot enfant: I'm not allowed to go upstairs unless I have some money.
Clément Mathieu: Says who?
Pépinot enfant: Mondain.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Phénomania: Les choristes: explication d'un succès (#1.1)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Vois sur ton chemin

A wonderfully uplifting film.

The locale for this French sub-titled film is a locked fortress-like school for poor boys from broken homes, WWII orphans and juvenile delinquents, very Dickensian in feel. The principal of the school,is a detestable man who abuses students and teachers equally. You've seen the plot before, of course, and some of the characters are "stock" sorts. But the acting of the lead, the teacher who "saves" the students by luring them into singing, is portrayed charmingly by Gerard Jugnot. Mostly bald, a bit stocky and no beauty, he is nonetheless disarming. The boy soprano, Jean-Baptiste Maunier, has a wonderful voice, and the chorus is splendid. Particularly fine was the score, almost entirely original, by Bruno Colais. I was looking for something inspiring on this bitter cold inaugural day in the U.S. Les Choristes made my spirit soar and reaffirmed that kindness, generosity of self and the gift of music still have the power to change people's lives.