Tuesday 11 November 2008
Film, Les Choristes
The local film club showed Les Choristes (the Choir) last week. I highly recommended it. Filmed in 2004, in French with subtitles, mostly black and white, but don’t let that put you off. In 1949 a new master joins a grim boarding school for difficult boys in rural France and transforms their lives with his music. OK, well, even if the plot is predictable, it is very moving, and witty rather than earnest. Wonderful, wonderful singing. A film for older children to enjoy too, no sex, little violence, just some fairly bad language from time to time, but I guess you could turn off the subtitles. It reminds me of TV series when Gareth Malone encourage his unlikely pupils to enjoy singing - except that his struggle was real, of course. But do get hold of the CD and watch Les Choristes. Here is a link to some YouTube clips of the music.
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5 comments:
Lovely! Thanks so much for the link; I'm longing to see the film, now. Can you imagine English boys wearing those trousers and white socks? :-)
Not sure what English boys wore in 1950 but could well be shorts. Even nowadays some schools insist on shorts until aged 13, but not with white socks, I admit!
I loved the film and also the music and have watched it several times.
(Have ordered your book and am looking forward to reading it).
I still haven't managed to see this film. It was a huge hit in France. I think there is another film out now about his life after the choir.
Isn't it wonderful? and you are right about its appeal to children. My older two, 15 and 11, both love it, the music is a popular choice with their school choirs and French teachers make them watch it without subtitles at the end of term! A thoroughly life-affirming film.
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