Les Choristes - The Chorus

Les Choristes was very entertaining to me, although I thought it seemed like it was cut short. The movie started out with two men reading a journal from a music teacher they both had when they were younger. The music teacher, Clément Mathieu, didn't know what he was getting into.



On his first day, the headmaster surprises Mathieu with his impatience and anger. The school was a boarding school just for boys. It was a place for orphans, badly behaved boys, and boys that were taken away from their parents. Throughout the movie, Mathieu gains the children's respect and attention, also discovering a young boy with a magnificent voice.



The reason I thought the movie was cut short was because it didn't show any big performances or where most of the children went after that. Overall, I enjoyed the movie. I would say it's in the drama category of genres, with a little humor.



The director of the movie is Christophe Barratier and it was produced in 2004. The main character actors are:

Clement Mathieu - Gerard Jugnot
Rachin - Francois Berleand
Chabert - Kad Merad
Maxence - Jean-Paul Bonnaire
Violette Morhange - Marie Bunel
Pierre Morhange - Jean-Baptiste Maunier
Pepinot - Maxence Perrin
Le Querrec - Cyril Bernicot
Boniface - Simon Fargeot

Les Choristes won many awards including, the Audience Award and the Jury award in 2004 and the Golden Kinnaree Award and the Cesar award in 2005.

Did you like the film? Why or why not?

Yes, I liked the film. It was funny and it kept me interested. I liked the way it started out with the adult versions of the two boys in the chorus. I would recommend this to well, anyone really if they have any spare time. It was a fun watch.

Was the film aesthetically beautiful? If yes, how so? If not, then why not?

Yes, the songs and music the boys performed were beautiful. They sang really well for a bunch of mischievous boys. They had a soft, high pitched sound. This was most likely because they were young boys. And also the dedication that Mathieu put into the chorus and the boys was great.

What are three major themes that the film addresses? How are those themes played out?

One major theme would be determination. Mathieu does not quit on teaching the boys how to sing. Another major theme would be discipline. Even though the headmaster in the movie goes a bit too far with punishment, we could all learn that with wrong decisions, there comes consequences and discipline. And the last major theme would be to never give up. Never give up on your dreams, never give up doing what you love, and never give up fighting for it.

What does this film show about the French culture? Be specific!

Well, first it's in French! The manners in the movie are more strict than ours in America. In the movie, the boys had to stand and cross their arms whenever the headmaster came into the room. But that was the only person they really "respected" in the beginning. In America, the rules are looser in that area. You still have to respect the principle, but you don't have to stand up when he enters the class and wait for his signal to sit down.