| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | The Chorus (2004) |
| Director | Christophe Barratier |
| Writer | Christophe Barratier, Philippe Lopes-Curval |
| Lead Actor | Gérard Jugnot |
| Cast | Gérard Jugnot, François Berléand, Jean-Baptiste Maunier, Jacques Perrin |
| Genre | Drama, Music |
| Release Date | March 17, 2004 (France) |
| Duration | 1h 56m |
| Budget | $10.4 million |
| Language | French |
| IMDb Rating | 7.9/10 |
WATCH NOW
The story is told through the eyes of two boys who, as elderly men, look back at the man and events that shaped their lives at a boarding school for troubled youngsters.
Their teacher, Clemént Mathieu (Gérard Jugnot), is an earnest, pudgy, nondescript teacher who comes new to the school looking a little lost. He is immediately educated in the unbending philosophy of the principal, Rachin (Francois Berléand)“action-reaction,” roughly translated as “every misdeed has immediate and severe consequences.” The result is a prison atmosphere, with a constant battle raging between resident students and their teachers.
At first the mild-mannered Mathieu appears to be overmatched by the unruly lads he not only teaches, but also lives with. Two students deserve special attention. Mathieu’s departing predecessor warns him about Pierre Morhant (Jean-Baptiste Maunier), who has the face of an angel and the personality of a gang leader. He also has an amazing soprano voice. Pépinot (Maxence Perrin), the youngest and most vulnerable child in the group, waits fruitlessly at the school gate each Saturday for his father to come pick him up.
When he first arrives, Mathieu locks a precious leather packet in his personal cabinet. Naturally the boys steal it, but they are baffled when the treasure is only musical notepaper. Outed as a composer by the theft of his handwritten music, Mathieu is inspired to get the boys to sing.
Everyone responds. They all know at least one song they can sing for their audition, and the class is quickly divided into vocal sections. (Since boys will be boys, their language is not a model for little children.) One lad cannot sing at all. He is given the responsibility of serving as the music stand. Pépinot, clearly too small and too shy to participate, is designated assistant music director.
Given the movie genre, it is no surprise that the lives of the boys will be transformed by the musical harmony they subsequently create. They are not the only ones, however. Mathieu himself is redeemed. A failed composer who has had no hope of ever hearing his music performed, he gains recognition and self-esteem in the process. The other teachers also come to recognize that respect has greater efficacy than punishment in improving their students’ behavior.
Director Christophe Barratier has crafted a well acted, gentle and humanistic film worth seeing, and the music is pleasing to the ear.
For more movies like The Chorus (2004) visit Hurawatch.
Also watch: