The Chorus (2004)

Set in 1949 at Fond de l’Étang, a strict boys’ boarding school in the French countryside, The Chorus follows Clément Mathieu, a well-meaning, middle‑aged supervisor who rejects the headmaster’s harsh “action–reaction” regime and quietly tries to change the place through music. When he starts an after‑hours choir, Mathieu slowly draws out the hidden talents and humanity of several boys — notably the troubled, gifted Pierre Morhange and the small, lonely Pépinot — even as he clashes with the iron‑fisted principal and struggles with the disruptive presence of Pascal Mondain. The film is a gentle, bittersweet drama with moments of dry humor and moral warmth. It foregrounds the transformational power of song: the rehearsals and performances become the school’s emotional center, revealing secrets, healing wounds, and giving boys a sense of purpose and dignity they’ve never known. Told in part through a later reading of Mathieu’s memoirs, the story balances hope and melancholy, showing how one determined teacher’s patience and creativity ripple across lives. If you watch The Chorus you’ll experience tender, emotional storytelling, evocative period atmosphere, and stirring choral music that alternates between uplifting and haunting. Expect to be moved, occasionally amused, and ultimately left with a lingering mix of sorrow and hope — an intimate portrait of redemption through art and human kindness.

Actors: Gérard Jugnot, François Berléand, Jean-Baptiste Maunier

Director: Christophe Barratier

Runtime: 97 min

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Music

7.6 /10 56 /100 7.8 /10 7.0 /10