TENOR

France, 2022, 100 minutes, Colour.

Michele Laroque, Mohammed Belkhir (MB14), Guillaume Duhesme, Maeva El Aroussi, Samir Decazza, Marie Oppert, Louis De Lavignere.

Directed by Claude Zidi Jr.

The Tenor is a surprising film, very entertaining.

The film opens with with a bare knuckle fight, rivalry in a local gang in a Paris neighbourhood, and will end with the singing of Nessun Dorma, quite a journey in between.

The young central character, Antoine, a fine performance by Michele Laroque, is part of the gang, cared for by his older brother who is one of the combatants in the initial fight. Antoine is skilled at creating rap songs and performing them, again a competition among the gangs in the neighbourhood. Antoine earns part of his living by delivering sushi from a local restaurant.

When he delivers sushi at the Paris Opera house, he hears a young woman singing and is entranced. He is very forward, make something of a scene at the Opera house but is invited back by the Diva (who has a terminal illness).

What follows is something like a Pygmalion story, the young man giving an audition, discovering his operatic talent, going into training, clashes with the Diva, with some of the other singers, used by an aristocratic singer to enhance her own reputation, especially at a performance at her wealthy mansion. His brother and those in the neighbourhood are not aware of what is happening to Antoine.

There is a performance by Opera singer, Roberto Aragni, who encourages Antoine.

Quite a lot of music, and in fact, quite a lot of rap, even the Diva enjoying it, a final competition, then a revelation of the truth, a challenge to the brother who had been in prison, a friend who had joined the army, and the whole group gatecrashing Antoine’s final audition.

Well acted, well sung (rap and Opera), often quite exhilarating.

1. The title, Antoine, skilled rap artist, singing voice, Opera?
2. The French settings, the neighbourhoods, wealthy and poor? Racial differences? Gangs? Paris Opera house, the visuals, exteriors and lavish interiors, mansions and theatres, clubs, martial arts and boxing rivalries, rap rivalries?
3. The music, the rap rhythms, the rap lyrics, however, aggressive, taunting, witty? The performances and the competitions? The acknowledgement of Tupac Shakur? The Opera singer and her movements to the Tupac music? The contrast with, comparisons with Opera? The range of excerpts? The Opera singer, Roberto Aragna and his performance? Madame Butterfly, Nessun Dorma… Performances, duets, solos?
4. The atmosphere of the opening, the brutal fight, the crowd cheering, blows, collapses? And the contrast with the ending and Antoine singing Nessun Dorma, and his achievement?
5. Antoine’s story, with his brother, his brothers fighting, looking after him, living together, ambitions for Antoine, the economics course and his ability to answer questions, the admiration of the professor, urging him to come back? His work delivering sushi? His skill with rap lyrics and music, his performance, lively, the support of the Rembrandts, the attack of the Picassos, his being beaten? The friendship with Samia, her going into the Army, her attraction and attachment, his seeing her as a friend? Ellio and the other friends, their support? With his brother and his training? At home?
6. Delivering the sushi, to the Opera house, his admiration for the singer, the clash with Maxime, taunts, his voice, Madame hearing him? His going off in a huff? Madame going to the sushi centre, tracking Antoine down? The delivery, the discussions, the to and fro, her challenging him? The return, the breathing exercises, the diaphragm, his ignorance and not knowing what the diaphragm was, his response to the exercises, even doing the rap more effectively? Her giving him the CD of Madame Butterfly, his listening and its effect? Taking him out of himself?
7. Madame, her physical condition, her drinking, the discussions with Pierre, requesting him to accept Antoine, his wanting her to go to Korea to sing, her refusal? Taking Antoine to the opera, his hearing Roberto sing, singing with Roberto, Pierre’s change of attitude?
8. The training, the attraction to Josephine, the duet with her, her inviting him to the family, her performance and humiliating him? The clashes with Maxime, the fights, rivalry, singing together but different styles? Yet Maxime befriending him, his own story, giving him shelter, the friendship, the final support?
9. Samia, going to the Army, the significant move for a woman, the training sequences, the discussions about relationships, her going to see Antoine, introduction to Josephine, her being hurt?
10. Antoine and his progress, practices, missing his brother’s fight, the police arriving, his brother’s arrest, jail, thinking of the excuse for their mother and his being in Japan, the phone calls, the posters in the cell? His getting out? The confrontation with Antoine and his angry outburst?
11. Antoine, upset, the training, going back to class for the economics class, Samia hostile, confused?
12. The audition, his not singing well, walking out after being late, Madame and her taunts? His reaction?
13. The confrontation at the club, his punching his opponent, walking out? Lonely, the support of Maxime?
14. His brother, angry with Antoine, his room, throwing the musical score out the window, Samia seeing the invitation, her rounding up everyone, persuading the brother, the decision to go to the audition? The letter from Madame, his apology?
15. Madame, her illness, short time to live, talking with Pierre, wanting to enjoy the wine and the music? The letter to Antoine, the voice-over? And the blood drops on his musical score?
16. Antoine, ready for the audition, the audience waiting, his brother and Samia all coming in, the quality of his singing, Nessun Dorma and conquering with Vincera? The acclaim? The reconciliation?
17. The final image of Antoine, Opera singer, content in himself, his achievement? His future?