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France, Switzerland, Germany · 2004
Rated PG · 1h 36m
Director Christophe Barratier
Starring Gérard Jugnot, François Berléand, Kad Merad, Jean-Paul Bonnaire
Genre Drama
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In postwar France, Clément Mathieu, an unemployed music teacher, finds a job at a correctional boarding school for disruptive boys. When the harsh disciplinary policies of the school's director prove ineffectual, Clément sets out to change the pupils' lives by acquainting them with the magic of music.
We hate to say it, but we can't find anywhere to view this film.
The cinematic equivalent of filtered water, The Chorus is all smooth, nutrient-free clichés. This shamelessly globalized French Oscar submission even opens with a shot of an American flag--perhaps an unconscious declaration of defeat for importable Gallic cinema.
An enchantingly beautiful and moving film.
Christian Science Monitor by David Sterritt
Extremely goodhearted, if not exactly original or exciting.
The Hollywood Reporter by Frank Scheck
An appealing lead performance from its leading man and a wonderfully sentimental, if overly familiar, story line are the chief virtues of this French drama, a huge success in its native country.
Los Angeles Times by Kevin Thomas
A runaway hit in France last year and the country's official Oscar entry, is a well-nigh irresistible film celebrating the redemptive power of music.
No stereotype is left unheralded and no heartstring left untugged in this freely adapted remake of Jean Dreville's mostly forgotten "La cage aux rossignols"
Entertainment Weekly by Lisa Schwarzbaum
The movie is rotten the way that only a denatured made-for-export slice of Gallic nostalgia can be.
The New York Times by Manohla Dargis
A deeply conventional story about truculent or orphaned boys and the gentle soul who finds himself by shaping the tots into a chorus.
The Chorus plucks desperately at the heartstrings, but fails to breathe new life into a tired old tune.
The Chorus is sham art and questionable entertainment, but at the very least it sends you whistling out of the theater.
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Although not super original or thrilling, The Chorus nonetheless depicts a sentimental story of music, friendship, and growth. A simple yet soft film that gently tugs at your heartstrings, the film is for those who'd simply like to enjoy a sweet story with some pleasant music.