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The Chorus (PG-13, 2005)

common sense media says

Boarding school antics and the power of music.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie depicts young boys acting out at a boarding school. They set booby traps for faculty members, sneak cigarettes when left alone, and use some foul language. The headmaster of the school has little patience with the boys and resorts to heavy paddlings. He even puts some of the worst troublemakers into a solitary confinement cell. A significant theft of school funds occurs, and one of the boys is the culprit. When the boys called upon by the school prefect to sing any songs they might know, a few contain toilet-based or sexual lyrics.

Positive messages: The school prefect helps gives the young boys senses of self-esteem.
Violence: Obscured scenes of corporal punishment, aftermath of fire shown (no live fire scenes).
Sex: Schoolboys singing lewd songs.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Schoolboys sneaking cigarettes.
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More on The Chorus

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the state of the boarding school prior to the formation of the choir. Why did the boys act out? Was it because of the headmaster's abusive tactics? Why doesn't the headmaster correct the thief's mistaken identity with the police? How does Mr. Mathieu's interest in Morhange's mother lead him to to treat the boy differently?

What's the story?

What's the story?
THE CHORUS tells the childhood story of a famous conductor named Pierre. In the 1940s, the troublemaking boy has a hard time at his dull boarding school with its strict headmaster. But everything changes for the better for the boarding school boys -- especially Pierre -- when a new teacher arrives and starts a choir.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
American critics have largely lambasted this huge French hit, criticizing it for being too similar to other uplifting school-based movies. Surely enough, it comes across as a mix between Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) and Dead Poet's Society (1989), albeit with younger students, but two things set it apart from those films. First, the many threads of the plot are treated more neatly, never allowing one narrative strand, or actor's performance, to overpower any of the others. Secondly, the choral music, actually performed by a handpicked boys choir, is unequivocally beautiful and emotionally stirring.

With those unique elements, the actual story trajectories are pretty predictable, and there's no tension or action of any sort. Depending on one's mood, some of the more sentimental scenes may come across as too sugary. However, the core of the film, a warmhearted faculty member encouraging a group of students to channel their restless energies into singing beautiful music, is captivating, and anyone with a passing interest in music will find something very pleasing in that.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Miramax
Director: Christophe Barratier
Cast: Francois Berleand, Gerard Jugnot, Kad Merad
Genre: Drama
Run time: 97 minutes
Theatrical release: January 14, 2005
DVD release: May 3, 2005
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: some language/sexual references, and violence.
This review was written by David Gurney
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

harrypotter98
kid, 13 years old
12
 
I absolutly adore this heartwarming film. It is a beautiful but deep story with use of bad language and some sex talk. A must see for mature 11 and +. Plus Jean-Baptise Maunier is a fab singer and lush!
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telcontar
adult
 
Deserving Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Film
Les Choristes is a GREAT film for all to see if you can read subtitles for 1.5 hours. It's a feel-good movie that made me cry at the end (of happiness), which has probably never happened before. Nobody was even crying in the movie, and there wasn't sad music, and I was still crying. Jean-Baptiste Maunier is very handsome, and there isn't a bad actor in the entire movie. Kids of any age could watch this movie, but smaller kids probably won't be too thrilled about reading subtitles and the nuanced subtlety of the film. The Chorus is sweet and heartwarming, and I'm going to watch it again today.
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