Heartwarming Moments and Soaring Moments: My Discovery of Les Choristes

Rating: 8/10 (24 September 2014)

I was first introduced to Les Choristes in my eighth grade French class. I, an uncultured teenager, groaned at the mention of another subtitled movie. Spending the last period before lunch deciphering a poorly staged foreign film was not an idea I relished. Much to my dismay, the scene set on two elderly men reminiscing about their childhood. Fast forward 35 minutes for me and 50 years into the past of the old men, and I was in love with the romantically hopeless setting and the captivating soundtrack. Les Choristes had proved itself to be a heartwarming (though admittedly unoriginal) film that portrays renewed hope amongst corruption. The film prefaces at a desolate climate at a 'troubled' boys' school post World War II. Rachin (François Berléand), the bitter headmaster, rules with the overbearing model of "Action-Reaction". As the children act out, Rachin quickly and harshly punishes them, squashing any idea of freedom from his corruption. The maltreated boys whittle away in spirit as does their freedom to grow. Enter new supervisor Clément Mathieu (Gérard Jugnot), a failed musician, knocking at the gates of the school, Fond De L'Etang (Rock Bottom). Quickly excelling under the tutelage of their 'underground' choir director Mathieu, the boys prove to be of more maturity than the name of their school would ever suggest. Whenever Mathieu suggests change, whether it is in regards to more humane disciplinary action against the wishes of Rachin, earning the respect of his students, or bashfully presenting his affections to a student's single mother, a flicker of fear on his face betrays his emotions. This is where the strength of Jugnot's acting lies. It is not found in large, overblown moments; Jugnot's quality is found in his small smiles of support to his students behind Rachin's back, in his caretaking of a bullied student, and in his softly spoken decisions of punishment and reward for the choir's talented, moody soprano soloist. Though Jugnot plays Matieu with phenomenally subtle emotions, the plot does not prove to be quite so sincere. It's a path well- traveled: An unexperienced teacher implements positive change by taming a group of abandoned students trapped in a corrupt system. Remind anyone else of Mr. Holland's Opus or The Dead Poet's Society? In fact, an old French film called The Cage of Nightingales (1945) served as inspiration for Les Choristes, so any originality that may have been left cannot be claimed by the writer/director, Christophe Barratier. While charming, the idea of a catalytic teacher painstakingly trying to connect to his students soon loses its warm, romantic quality and becomes stale. As a self-proclaimed music connoisseur, my struggle with the plot was soon forgotten with the airy, haunting musical score. Long, moving melodies of the boys' choir are used in perfect succession with the rising and falling hope in the movie. An orchestra-heavy background sounds dreamy in comparison to the unpolished voices of the boys' choir, which only further adds authenticity and playfulness. No knowledge of the French language is needed to enjoy this music, and any flaws with the less than original storyline are enveloped by the stirring score. It's raining as I now finish my review. Against all odds, the sun is still shining through the gloom to create an unexpected atmosphere of both melancholy and joy, much as the boys of Fond De L'Etang do. In this weather, I am reminded of the choir's beautiful, haunting voices, Clément Mathieu's hopeful story, and, most of all, of how a young eighth grade girl was able to look past unoriginality to find an uplifting tale of hope in Les Choristes.