Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1061 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-07-11
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: French
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 93 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
By getting nominated for Academy Awards in both the Foreign Language Film and Best Song categories, Les Choristes (The Chorus) made a rare (for a European film) double impression at the 2004 Oscars. This sentimental tale follows the arrival of a new teacher at a remote boys school in 1949 France (the war is a largely unspoken but ghostly presence). With disciplinary problems rampant, and the policies of the old-fashioned headmaster not helping, Monsieur Mathieu decides to introduce choral singing as a way to bridge the gap with his students. You don't need a crystal ball to figure out where this will go, although the movie uses its atmospheric location and lush vocal arrangements well. Bald, dumpy Gerard Jugnot provides a refreshingly offbeat hero: he's sort of a younger Philippe Noiret. Director Christophe Barratier works in the winsome-cute mode that makes a certain kind of French movie into an overly sweet bon bon, although at least this bon bon sings. --Robert Horton, Amazon.com

Synopsis
A memorable entry in the genre of inspirational pedagogical films, THE CHORUS is an uplifting tale of a masterful teacher who put his heart into his work and changed the lives of his students forever. With a soundtrack of boys' singing, the lovely music of this film is the glue that will stick to viewers long after watching it. Set in 1940s rural France, at a school for poor boys who are delinquent or orphaned, the story feels timeless in the way that it captures a crucial moment in the lives of the boys involved. Ranging from early elementary school level to junior high, the boys struggle for independence and self-expression. They defy authority, especially when it comes from their brutally unfair and abusive headmaster, Rachin (Francois Berleand). And in general, because they feel neglected by their families, or don't have any family at all, there is something disjointed and sullen about the boys. Only after their teacher, Clement Mathieu (Gerard Jugnot), shows them that he will guide them, befriend them, and teach them by peaking their curiosity, not by insisting or punishing, do they begin to change. The choir he forms, and the songs he teaches the boys, become a source of pride for them, allowing them to rise above the confines of their meagre and stifling school, and dream of a bright future. Director/writer Christophe Barratier has created a moving and beautiful film with more than a few life lessons hidden within. The music, written by Bruno Coulais, features the angelic voice of Jean-Paul Bonnaire, who plays Morhange in the film.

Customer Reviews

Beautiful
This is a wonderful film. Its moving, slightly sad, and heart-warming. I watched it first at school with my GCSE standards French, in French, with French subtitles. Although I didn't understand all the details, I still enjoyed it immensely, and however you watch it, it is amazing. I had the song "Les Choristes" in my head for days.
The film begins in the future, and then is mostly a flashback. A new teacher arrives at Fond D'Etang, a school for difficult boys, to teach music, and immediately discovers the harsh discipline and the bad behaviour which forced the man he is replacing to retire. His unusual methods soon warm the boys to him, and he achieves a lot. There is some wonderful music, especially the soloist, Pierre. Pepinot, a very young boy, is adorable, and he partly gives the film its touching ending.
Whatever standard your French is, even if you watch it in English; whether you like this sort of music or not, you cannot fail to love this film. It's hard for me to put my finger on what exactly makes it appeal so much to me, but the characters are probably its best feature. They are well developed, lovable (or hatable, in the headmaster's case) and they make the film stick in your mind. Make sure you give this a try!

Wonderful!
Beautiful film. The cinematography, script and characterizations are just perfect, and the plot moves along nicely. A good, harmless film.
Don't be put off by the subtitles, the characters and plot make you forget you have to read them, even if French is not your first language.
I loved every moment of this, and watched it twice two days running. Gorgeous.

Really rather wonderful
It's easy enough to dismiss this French tale of a failed schoolteacher reforming both the pupils and staff of a boarding school for difficult boys by starting a choir as Monsieur Holland's Opus, Au Revoir Monsieur Pommes Frittes or even Societe des Poets Mort (although it is a remake of a 1945 film La Cage aux Rossingols that predates most of them), but it's done so well that it's impossible not to be won over by it. Sentimental? Sure, but its honest sentiment that doesn't overdose on artificial sweeteners. Gerard Jugnot beautifully underplays the lead, although all the cast are impressive, but the real star of the film is Bruno Coulais and Christophe Barratier's music, avoiding the dirges for some genuinely beautiful and affecting pieces that give the film wings. It's probably the kind of film its easy for some to dislike sight unseen as typical 'export cinema' (not only does it share its framing-device structure with Cinema Paradiso, but actor-producer Jacques Perrin even plays the role of the conductor returning to his hometown for a funeral!), but it's all done so very well that it's nigh-on impossible not to be won over.

The DVD offers a good 2.35:1 widescreen transfer, trailer and a good 72-minute documentary. Highly recommended.