Les choristes (2004)

Director:

Christophe Barratier

Writers:

Georges Chaperot (1945 story "La Cage aux rossignols") &
René Wheeler (1945 story "La Cage aux rossignols") ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 March 2004 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Plot:

The new teacher at a severely administered boys' boarding school works to positively effect the students' lives through music.

Plot Keywords:

Boy | School | Teacher | Boarding School | Choir

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Gérard Jugnot	...	Clément Mathieu
François Berléand	...	Rachin
Kad Merad	...	Chabert
Jean-Paul Bonnaire	...	La Père Maxence
Marie Bunel	...	Violette Morhange
Jean-Baptiste Maunier	...	Pierre Morhange
Maxence Perrin	...	Pépinot
Grégory Gatignol	...	Mondain
Thomas Blumenthal	...	Corbin
Cyril Bernicot	...	Le Querrec
Simon Fargeot	...	Boniface
Théodule Carré-Cassaigne	...	Leclerc
Philippe du Janerand	...	Monsieur Langlois
Carole Weiss	...	La Comtesse
Erick Desmarestz	...	Le Docteur Dervaux
Paul Chariéras	...	Régent
Armen Godel	...	Le médecin
Monique Ditisheim	...	Le mère Marie
Steve Gadler	...	Assistant Pierre Morhange
Fabrice Dubusset	...	Carpentier
Marielle Coubaillon	...	Madame Rachin
Violette Barratier	...	Fille Rachin 1
Lena Chalvon	...	Fille Rachin 2
Colette Dupanloup	...	La cuisinière
Didier Flamand	...	Pépinot adulte
Jacques Perrin	...	Pierre Morhange adulte
Mathieu Basset	...	Enfant
Loïc Bernicöt	...	Enfant
Christophe Borie	...	Enfant
Clément Bonnemoy	...	Enfant
Dimitri Brand	...	Enfant
Aurélien Bravard	...	Enfant
Benjamin Charles	...	Enfant
Niels Dalbignat	...	Enfant
Gaetan Delaire	...	Enfant
Louis Deval	...	Enfant
Jordan Donatella	...	Enfant
Quentin Donatella	...	Enfant
Jérémy Duarte	...	Enfant
Rémi Dubien	...	Enfant
Aurélien Dussol	...	Enfant
Patrice Dubrouillet	...	Enfant
Jérémy Eberle	...	Enfant
Mickaël Fournier	...	Enfant
Benoît Fritisse	...	Enfant
Nicolas Gomme	...	Enfant
Florian Gontard	...	Enfant
Bogdan Illouz	...	Enfant
Giacomo Kahn	...	Enfant
Marc-Antoine Madeyre	...	Enfant
Kevin Monteiro	...	Enfant
Denis Papon	...	Enfant
Vincent Riqueur	...	Enfant
Alexandre Resende	...	Enfant
Anthony Ryat	...	Enfant
Quentin Alibert	...	Enfant
Rodrigo Avitt	...	Enfant
Baptiste Beaumet	...	Enfant
Yanis Benhamana	...	Enfant
Vincent Reviron	...	Enfant
Eloi Buisson	...	Enfant
Jessy Chalmeton	...	Enfant
Arthus Chambon	...	Enfant
Antonin Delahaies	...	Enfant
Alexandre Dosjoub	...	Enfant
Mathieu Durif	...	Enfant
Kevin Eytier	...	Enfant
Gaël Fayet	...	Enfant
Loïc Françon	...	Enfant
Sylvain Fustier	...	Enfant
Philippe Gaumme	...	Enfant
Jordy Lapatrie	...	Enfant
Gary Lemaouche	...	Enfant
Thomas Levert	...	Enfant
Jean-Baptiste Malaqui	...	Enfant
Samuel L'Honnen	...	Enfant
Titouan Martin	...	Enfant
Adrien Pinet	...	Enfant
Pierre-Alban Vernet	...	Enfant
Kevin Remont	...	Enfant
Nicolas Pouyad	...	Enfant
Maxime Brilland-Guijarro	...	Enfant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michel Caccia	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Christophe Barratier

Writing credits
Georges Chaperot		(1945 story "La Cage aux rossignols") &
René Wheeler		(1945 story "La Cage aux rossignols")
René Wheeler		(1945 screenplay "La Cage aux rossignols") &
Noël-Noël		(1945 screenplay "La Cage aux rossignols")
Christophe Barratier		(screen story)
Christophe Barratier		(screenplay) &
Philippe Lopes-Curval		(screenplay)

Produced by
Arthur Cohn	....	producer
Léonard Glowinski	....	associate producer
Gérard Jugnot	....	associate producer
Michael Kühn	....	executive producer
Romain Le Grand	....	associate producer
Nicolas Mauvernay	....	producer
Jacques Perrin	....	producer
Ruth Waldburger	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Bruno Coulais

Cinematography by
Jean-Jacques Bouhon
Dominique Gentil
Carlo Varini

Film Editing by
Yves Deschamps

Casting by
Sylvie Brocheré
Agathe Hassenforder

Production Design by
François Chauvaud

Art Direction by
Pierre Ferrari

Set Decoration by
Jean-Pierre Gaillot

Costume Design by
Françoise Guégan

Makeup Department
Sylvie Duval	....	key makeup artist
Odile Fourquin	....	makeup artist
Françoise Fregonese	....	hair stylist
Sylvie Leray	....	key hair stylist (as Silvie Leray)
Fabienne Robineau	....	makeup artist
Christine Vizier	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Christophe Anzoli	....	unit manager
Cyrille Bruneau	....	assistant production manager
Bernard Lorain	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marc Baraduc	....	first assistant director
Catherine Hofer	....	assistant director
Vincent Kaluza	....	trainee assistant director
Romain Kunstlinger	....	trainee assistant director

Art Department
Bernard Beysseriat	....	painter
Stéphane Blanc	....	painter
Henri Castillo	....	head carpenter
Sophie Chandoutis	....	painter
Nicolas Charpin	....	constructor
Vincent Chassaing	....	constructor
Jean-Luc Chauvaud	....	assistant decorator
Fabrice Coudert	....	constructor
Florence de la Maladière	....	painter
Bernard Ducrocq	....	property master
Pascal Fasola	....	painter
Patrice Fasola	....	head painter
Jean-Pierre Gaillot	....	set dresser
Serge Goblet	....	constructor
Grégory Graziani	....	painter
Lazlo Guarguir	....	painter
Rodolphe Heckmann	....	constructor
Guy Lionel	....	painter
Max Magnan	....	storyboard artist
Emmanuel Marthon	....	constructor
Jonathan Muret	....	assistant decorator
Joel Nicolas	....	carpenter (as Joël Nicolas)
Stéphane Renié	....	constructor
Francoise Rouge	....	painter
Jean-Claude Tenes	....	construction manager
Laurent Thevenot	....	painter (as Laurent Thévenot)
Bertrand Vuarnesson	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Vladislav Boyadjiev	....	pro-tools technician
Hervé Bénard	....	sound recordist
Nicolas Cantin	....	boom operator
Nicolas Cantin	....	sound editor
Joseph Catricala	....	foley engineer
Frédéric Cattoni	....	stereo sound consultant: DTS
Pascal Chauvin	....	foley artist
Eric Grattepain	....	foley artist
Gabriel Hafner	....	sound editor
Alexis Leverve	....	sound recordist
Didier Lizé	....	sound engineer
Michel Monier	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Nicolas Naegelen	....	sound mixer
Laurent Peter	....	sound assistant
David Rit	....	boom operator
Hervé Roux	....	stereo sound consultant: DTS
Daniel Sobrino	....	sound editor
Daniel Sobrino	....	sound mixer
Patrice Séverac	....	post-synchronization
Vincent Vatoux	....	sound

Special Effects by
Romain Bretet	....	special effects
Olivier Cohen-Bacri	....	special effects
Nicolas David	....	titles design
Daniel Lenoir	....	special effects
Carol Styczen	....	special effects
Piotr Styczen	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Thierry Ardiller	....	digital compositor
Luc Augereau	....	visual effects producer
Berengere Dominguez	....	visual effects coordinator
Justine Gasquet	....	digital compositor
Frederic Moreau	....	visual effects producer
François Vagnon	....	visual effects supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
François Andreoletti	....	video assist operator
Nicolas Batisse	....	video assist operator (as Nicolas Bátisse)
Vincent Blasco	....	grip
Jean-Jacques Bouhon	....	additional camera operator
Michel Bubola	....	electrician
Simon Bérard	....	gaffer
Renaud Chassaing	....	additional camera operator
Benoit Dentan	....	camera operator
Guillaume Dreujou	....	assistant camera
Nicolas Duchêne	....	assistant camera
Jean-Christophe Duwez	....	electrician
Denis Garnier	....	assistant camera
Nil Henchoz	....	key grip
Hans Krumenacker	....	electrician
Frédéric Lenormand	....	grip
Margot Lestage	....	second assistant camera
Loïc Limosin	....	electrician
Christine Mignard	....	assistant camera
François Perrault-Alix	....	grip
Raphaël Planeix	....	electrician trainee
Philippe Quaisse	....	still photographer
Marie Queney	....	assistant camera
Yves Reymond	....	grip
Piotr Stadnicki	....	first assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Christine Civrac	....	wardrobe
Eric Perron	....	costumer
Jean-Pierre Villeneuve	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Frédéric Casnin	....	color timer
Pauline Flamand	....	assistant editor
Alain Guarda	....	color timer
Sophie Voiturin	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Christophe Barratier	....	composer: themes "Cerf-Volant" and "Nous sommes de Fond de l'Etang"
Bruno Coulais	....	conductor
Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc	....	choir
Dominic Faricier	....	musician: piano
Asen Kanchev	....	music production manager
Paul Lavergne	....	executive music producer
Slim Pezin	....	music supervisor
Nicolas Porte	....	conductor: choir

Other crew
Stéphanie Auger	....	production administrator
Nasser Belkalem	....	production coordinator
Sarah Bellwood	....	script consultant
Nicolas Dumont	....	executive production associate
Mickael Georgeault	....	groupman
Magali Herbinger	....	production secretary
Claude Morice	....	production administrator
Frédéric North	....	helicopter pilot
Valentine Perrin	....	assistant: Christophe Barratier
Eva Simonet	....	press attache
Jean-Luc Tesson	....	production assistant
Françoise Thouvenot	....	script supervisor
Karin Tourgeman	....	accountant
Coralie Venière	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Vega Film
• Banque Populaire Images 4
• CP Medien AG
• Canal+
• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)
• Dan Valley Film AG
• France 2 Cinéma
• Galatée Films
• Novo Arturo Films
• Pathé Renn Productions
• Procirep

Distributors

• Pathé (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Bontonfilm (2004) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Festive Films (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Kamras Film Group (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Kulturföreningen Kedjan (2004) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Pathé (2005) (UK) (theatrical)
• Triangelfilm (2004) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Vega Distribution (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Fox Pathé Europa (2007) (France) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Fox Pathé Europa (2007) (France) (DVD) (HD DVD)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Highlight Film (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Medyavizyon (2005) (Turkey) (all media)
• Pathé International (2004) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Sandrews (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Teleview International (2003) (Lebanon) (TV) (Middle East)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2006) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• L'Etude et la Supervision des Trucages (L'E.S.T.) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Aerial Camera Systems  helicopter gyrostabilized camera system
• Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra  film score recording (2004)
• Digison  post-synchronization
• Iris Camera  camera equipment
• Locaflash  electrical equipment
• Nonesuch Records  soundtrack
• S.I.S.  sound editing
• SIF309 Film & Music Productions  film score recording

Also Known As:

"The Chorus" - International (English title) (imdb display title), UK, USA
"Chorists" - International (English title)
"Die Kinder des Monsieur Mathieu" - Germany
"The Choir" - International (English title)
"The Choir Boys" - Singapore (English title)
"Los coristas" - Argentina, Mexico (imdb display title), Venezuela
"Хористы" - Russia
"A Voz do Coração" - Brazil
"Die Kinder des Monsieur Mathieu" - Austria
"Gosskören" - Sweden
"I horodia" - Greece (TV title)
"Kóristák" - Hungary
"Körpojkarna" - Finland (Swedish title)
"Koret" - Denmark
"Koro" - Turkey (Turkish title)
"Kuoropojat" - Finland
"Les choristes - I ragazzi del coro" - Italy
"Los chicos del coro" - Spain
"Mathieu og korguttene" - Norway (imdb display title)
"Os Coristas" - Portugal
"Pan od muzyki" - Poland (imdb display title)
"Ta paidia tis horodias" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some language/sexual references and violence

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

France | Switzerland | Germany

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Zurich) | South Korea:All | Sweden:7 | Peru:PT | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Finland:K-7 | Germany:6 | Netherlands:MG6 | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Château de Ravel, Puy-de-Dôme, France

Company:

Vega Film

Trivia:

Inspired by the film La cage aux rossignols (1945).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: As Rachin enters the car and leaves with his family towards the end of the movie, crew members are reflected on the car windows. A man with a cigarette in his mouth can be seen (at 01:30:45) reflected first in the front side window and then in the back side window as the car drives past the camera.

Quotes:

Chabert:Action. Reaction.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

An Artist's Life

Magical

Spoilers

Taking France by storm this summer, Les choristes purportedly led to a surge in applications to join choirs all over the country. The magic is unquestionably in the music, but I'll come to that later.

The success of Les choristes as a film (with or without the divine music) lies in its not trying to be anything more than what it is, a simple tale that opens up to you instead of manipulating you. You'll find neither heart-breaking poignancy nor rousing heroism. Within the short duration of a school term or two he spent with the somewhat notorious boarding school, teacher and musician Clement Mathieu had his modest ambition fulfilled, of having a choir sing the music he wrote, then moved along to a continuously modest life of teaching and music. Talented protégé Pierre Morhange did achieve fame and success, but we have essentially been spared laboured scenes of Titanic struggles or exuberant jubilation. To ensure that I'm not misleading towards the other extreme, let me hasten to add that Les choristes does touch our hearts. It does this gently, sensibly.

But in the end, it's the music. Purely the celestial beauty of the music alone will brings tears to the appreciative audiences' eyes. The story is touching. The character are likable. But the ultimate magic is the choir and boy soprano Jean-Baptiste Maunier chosen from two thousand auditions. Such a magical choice.