QUAND J'ETAIS CHANTEUR (THE SINGER)
France, 2006, 110 minutes, Colour.
Gerard Depardieu, Cecile de France, Matthieu Amalric.
Directed by Jacques Fieschi.
Gerard Depardieu is something of a miracle! How can someone who looks so ungainly, not so handsome at all, and not as young as he used to be, still appear so charming and engaging? This is one of his most pleasingly accessible films – and suggests that he could have an alternate career as a singer.
This is very French in story, characters and relationships. He is still a band leader and singer in these days of karaoke. She is a somewhat repressed estate agent with a son. He falls for her. She takes quite some time and then we are not always certain whether she falls for him. In between there are many songs and musical interludes, a lot of looking at prospective houses for him, some moodiness on the part of each, the prospect of a big concert gig – as well as a bout of vocal chord inflammation and other expected ingredients.
But, it all works nicely. Depardieu will consolidate his fan club and Cecile de France is a striking screen presence. It is the kind of story that Hollywood likes – a remake with Nick Nolte and Cate Blanchett?
1. The charm of Gerard Depardieu? A Depardieu entertainment?
2. A Gallic story, characters, music, songs?
3. The title and the focus on Alain? The song in the final credits? Humorously ironic touch?
4. The portrait of Alain: Gerard Depardieu's presence, appearance, his singing the songs, the halls and the dances, the old-fashioned style? His long success? His band, relationship with them?
Marie and Daniel, their career? Marie and Alain together? Their house, her singing, her opting out of the touring to become his manager? Her relationship with Daniel? The bond between Marie and Alain, love? Marie and Daniel and the decision to marry? Alain and his age, his reaction to karaoke? The discussion about contracts? His seeing Marion as he sang, attracted towards her, going to the table, the chatter, the sexual encounter? The aftermath? His going to the office, the variety of houses that they visited? The on-and-off relationship? Moods? When they were together, tensions, love? The child? The dance lesson, her leaving? Her having to sort things out, his asking her feelings? The inflammation of his vocal cords? Afterwards, seeing him at home, his records, Una Lacrima? Marie and the arranging of the concert, his agreement, his going to the hall, the dressing room, Marion's visit? His running away, in the café, the discussion with Marion?
5. Marion, going to Bruno to get work? Bruno filling in the story of her background, in love, the man dying, her marriage, the child? Seeing her with her child - the tension, the gifts, in the house, the visit to the volcano museum? Her work, cool and poised? At the table watching Alain, the verbal interchanges, going to his apartment, the sexual encounter, her leaving? His feeling insulted? Her reaction to his visit? Taking him to see the various houses? Resisting getting to know him? The
ups and downs of moods? The bond, sometimes thinking he was pathetic? The dance class, her going away, wanting to sort things out? Her return, her concern, going to the concert, not getting in, meeting Marie, going to the dressing room, afterwards in the restaurant?
6. Marie, the bond with Alain, the marriage, the separation, her marriage to Daniel? The contracts, the concert? Daniel and the bar, their shop - and Alain going to promote sales?
7. Bruno, his work, genial, friends with Alain, supporting Marion?
8. The world of the band, songs, dances, the audience? The old-fashioned style? Karaoke coming in and the bands going out?
9. Alain and his enjoying his work, seeing it as a vocation?
10. The separation - the audience watching, the parting of the two - Marion's return and the final kiss? And the humour of the final
song?
