La Cage Aux Rossignols .......... in colour !!!!

Rating: Null/10 (21 November 2004)

I caught up with this one recently on DVD in Paris as I missed it when it came out and I was pleasantly surprised ! Of course it should be stated that it is just a remake of a 1940's film starring a very famous French actor called Noël-Noël, and called "La Cage Aux Rossignols". The principal actor in that film even had the same name as in Jugnot's film, Clément Mathieu. The DVD issued here has neither French subtitles for Deaf/Hard of hearing French nor foreign language subtitles to attract viewers from other countries .... it's indeed a very strange way to promote a film !!
The subject matter has been dealt with before in other films so there is nothing new under the sun ..... that said, the film is very pleasant to watch and we become attached to each of the characters in their own way. Using the "flashback" technique, such as in Goodbye Mr Chips, Cinema Paradiso, The BRidges of Madison County and other such films plays on the viewer's heartstrings because at the beginning of the film, all we are about to see is over, finished, part of the (distant) past and we have the nostalgic privilege to re-live that past thanks to the magic of cinema .........
The film was made in the Château de Ravel, situated in the Auvergne region of Central France, between Clermont Ferrand and Riom in the Puy-de-Dôme department. The Château de Ravel now has its own internet site which makes ample reference of cours to Les Choristes.
I was glad to have this film on DVD and will be sure to watch it several times more. My only qualms were with the choice of musical numbers - indeed I didn't know any of them - and they may indeed have been composed just for the film. As to the name of the school "Le Fond de l'Etang" or the Depths of The Pond, I assume it was chosen to represente "an out of the way" or "lowest of the low" type school !!
Sordid types of schools like these have been seen in other French films, in addition to La Cage aux Rossignols, there is "Les Diaboliques", "Le Diable Au Corps", and last but not least "Au Revoir Les Enfants" by Louis Malle.
I am not really sure whether the film will have success on a world basis - there is nothing typically French about it - but it does make for good watching and many spectators will be able to relate to it. On the other hand, it doesn't really have the extra little something which makes it stand out above other films ..... we shall have to let "nature" take its course and see the end result.