A strong sense of nostalgia pervades this remake of an obscure 1945 French film, not just for post-WWII France, but for the kind of movie in which incorrigible mop-tops are rehabilitated by a dedicated teacher (GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS) and his deep love of music (MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS). And surprisingly, there's a lot to enjoy, even as the film quickly surrenders to its sweetest impulses.
France, 1949: Failed composer Clement Mathieu (Gerard Jugnot) arrives at the school for wayward boys appropriately named Fond de L'Etang--"Rock Bottom"--where he's been hired to replace the departing supervisor. Mathieu's naive hope and enthusiasm are quickly dampened by the realization that there's little room for either at the grim institution. Even more forbidding than the school's dank accommodations and sneering, unruly student body is sour-faced Principal Rachin (Francois Berleand), a petty martinet who runs his school according to a simple zero-tolerance philosophy. Undaunted, Mathieu is determined to reach these so-called bad boys. After a group of them, including young Morhange (Jean-Baptiste Maunier), steal his satchel containing pages of musical notations and then later sing a teasing rhyme about Mathieu's bald head, the teacher gets an idea: Why not try to whip these out-of-control kids into a boys choir? A chorus will not only teach discipline and help the boys develop a talent they can take pride in, but enable Mathieu to further his dream of becoming a composer. Rachin is unconvinced but willing to allow this foolish idealist to give it a shot. If Mathieu's little "experiment" fails, however, he'll lose his job.
First-time director Christophe Barratier has assembled an unforgettable gallery of faces both young and old, and prolific character actor Berleand plays the perfect villain; his Rachin is enough to make veteran meanie George MacCready look like an absolute pussycat. Read the complete review for The Chorus
