Fauteuils d'orchestre (2006)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Danièle Thompson

Writers:

Danièle Thompson (screenplay) and
Christopher Thompson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 February 2006 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

A young woman arrives in Paris where she finds a job as a waitress in bar next on Avenue Montaigne that caters to the surrounding theaters and the wealthy inhabitants of the area. She will meet a pianist, a famous actress and a great art collector, and become acquainted with the "luxurious" world her grandmother has told her about since her childhood.

Plot Keywords:

Manager | Pianist | Concert | Bar | Café

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Valérie Lemercier	...	Catherine Versen
Cécile De France	...	Jessica
Albert Dupontel	...	Jean-François Lefort
Claude Brasseur	...	Jacques Grumberg
Christopher Thompson	...	Frédéric Grumberg
Dani	...	Claudie
Laura Morante	...	Valentine Lefort
Suzanne Flon	...	Madame Roux
Sydney Pollack	...	Brian Sobinski
François Rollin	...	Marcel
Guillaume Gallienne	...	Pascal
Annelise Hesme	...	Valérie
Françoise Lépine	...	Magali Garrel
Michel Vuillermoz	...	Félix
Daniel Benoin	...	Daniel Bercoff

Also Known As:

Orchestra Seats (Canada: English title) (festival title) (UK)
Avenue Montaigne (USA)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some strong language and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

106 min | USA:100 min (cut)

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:Atp | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:12 | Taiwan:GP | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

15 - Théâtre des Champs Elysées, avenue Montaigne, Paris 8, Paris, France

Company:

Thelma Films

Trivia:

Visa d'exploitation en France # 112436

Goofs:

Continuity: When Dupontel (Jean-François Lefort) gives his concert and takes off his shirt and jacket they change places, first in front of the long end of the piano then in the next cut much closer to the keyboard end.

Movie Connections:

References "Navarro" (1989)

Soundtrack:

Finale de la sonate 'La Tempête', opus 31 n°2

Go and see it

As in most of the best French films, not a lot happens and people spend a lot of time talking about their problems but somehow it works. The central character played by Cecile de France is largely a ficelle designed to link together the subplots. Each of these involves an apparently enviable character - someone who's apparently got it made - who isn't as happy as he (or she) should be. The malaises of these rich and glitzy characters turn out to be universal human problems - ageing, family strife, boredom. One of the major themes of the film, beautifully woven through all the subplots, is that we should theorise about life (and art) less and respond to life (and art) in an emotionally direct way. Ergo I shall simply say I enjoyed it, I didn't get a numb behind and I was happier after I came out than when I went in. It's worth the price of admission for the Sidney Pollack restaurant scene alone.