Old ingredients, winning formula

Rating: 9/10 (29 January 2005)

Conventional, but still a very good movie. Not an original story, but well played. The music is sublime. Jean-Baptiste Maunier has a formidable voice. The acting is also great, from the lead actor (Jugnot) to the kids (Morhange, Corbin, Pépinot and others). It helps that the characters are likable. The movie is charming and touching, without being a bad sentimental tear-jerker. There's some funny moments and the film also acts as a social commentary.
And the movie does a good job of transporting us to our own childhood. Ah! the time when we dreamt of conquering the world! «Bonheurs enfantins, trop vite oubliés, égarés» indeed.
Seen at the Odeon Varsity Cinemas, in Toronto, on January 27th, 2005.
87/100 (***½)