Mary, have you seen this already? I have only seen the trailer and it looks great. I just peaked into Rottentomatoes and they are killing this movie. Barely fresh (62%) for general and rotten (56%) in Cream of the Crop. Yikes.

Here is the synopsis from the site:

1949, post-War France – In a dark, doom-filled school for troubled boys where hope itself is in short supply, a mild-mannered new teacher has just arrived, only to find himself surrounded by prepubescent thieves, inveterate liars, unapologetic rebels and lost souls beyond reach. Or are they? When Clement Mathieu (Gerard Jugnot) introduces these supposedly hard-core delinquents to something they’ve never experienced before – the freedom and joy of music – he discovers there is far more to these children than anyone dared to believe

Well it seems from the reviews they are calling it a tear jerker and uncreative in its post war, orphan, drama. I've only seen one other, and its completely different content.

Anyways, I have seen Under the Domim Tree which was an excellent movie about Jewish Orphans in Israel living on one Kibbutz after the War. It was very mature, and actually besides a slightly encouraging ending, wasn't sappy. Some of the kids didn't want the Israeli government to accept recompensation money out of ethical principles while some other children said it would be mornonic not to, since the country needs funding to build itself up. The children were all painted in a light of having undergone such harrowing experiences that they became adults very quickly. Anyways, this does seem a bit more sugary, but I thought seeing as how it was French it wouldn't be that Hollywood-ish. They have a tendency towards melodrama, but not to acheive the same goals (tears). This may not be the case this time around. 34 reviews is already quite a few, so I don't see the numbers dramatically changing.

Will it affect this movie's Oscar chance?

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout ... 1117916776

'Choristes' deal sings

By IAN MOHR, Sun., Jan. 23, 2005, 10:00pm PT




PARK CITY -- Miramax Films has pacted with IFC Films to co-distribute "Les Choristes," France's official Oscar entry for best foreign film. Pic opens nationally Friday.
Under the arrangement, Miramax will handle domestic theatrical duties while IFC takes domestic free TV rights for its cable net. IFC also gets non-exclusive video-on-demand as part of the deal.

"Choristes" follows a middle-aged teacher who takes on a post at a school for juvenile delinquents in the wake of WWII. He changes the course of his students' lives when he teaches the boys to sing and creates a chorus.

Helmer Christophe Barratier penned the screenplay with Philippe Lopes-Curval. Arthur Cohn and Jacques Perrin produced. Miramax bought the film a year ago in Berlin after it emerged as one of the fest's hot titles.

With Miramax co-heads Bob and Harvey Weinstein still in talks with Disney over their contracts, it has been unclear what projects the brothers may take with them should they exit the Mouse House. Miramax has been actively wheeling and dealing of late, seeking to partner on various projects in its pipeline and picking up the hotly tipped Sundance title "Wolf Creek."

The Weinsteins worked with IFC previously on the breakout "Fahrenheit 9/11," which was also rolled out by Lions Gate.

Has anyone else seen Les Choristes? it's a fantastic little heartwarming film, i gave it an A-. The music is simply wonderful, and the story is certainly not what you would expect from your average musical.

Directed by
Christophe Barratier

Writing credits
Christophe Barratier
Philippe Lopes-Curval

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

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372824/

Trailer

Anyone had chance to catch this yet?? It's made $3,233,643 in the US but an amazing $74,603,363 overseas.

No prob. Did you search cinemania? becuse we;re entertaining thought of merging the two tonight, and would love to know what you think. anyways, i kind of fell out of love with movie after hearing more about it. it sounds a bit too simple and sugar coated without really having to deal with any of the larger issues around adandoned children. Ita been done so many times too. but the trailer did seem sweet and the cinematography and soundtrack looked great. I'm still undecided and hoping more people weigh in. It got dwarfed by its contemporary fellow coutry film A Very Long Engagement, and so didn't get that much press or a long run here.

No prob. Did you search cinemania? becuse we;re entertaining thought of merging the two tonight, and would love to know what you think. anyways, i kind of fell out of love with movie after hearing more about it. it sounds a bit too simple and sugar coated without really having to deal with any of the larger issues around adandoned children. Ita been done so many times too. but the trailer did seem sweet and the cinematography and soundtrack looked great. I'm still undecided and hoping more people weigh in. It got dwarfed by its contemporary fellow coutry film A Very Long Engagement, and so didn't get that much press or a long run here.