“Les Choristes”

French film made in 2004, starring Gérard Jugnot and François Berléand

The action of the film takes place in a boarding school for underprivileged boys in 1949 France. The Headmaster (Rachin) is a strict disciplinarian who shows little sympathy or even care for his fifty or so pupils. He goes by the watchwords “Action - réaction” and is unbending in his application of the principle that he (and his staff) will react vigorously and immediately to any act of indiscipline – no matter how big or how small.

However, things begin to change with the arrival of Clément Mathieu, a new (but ageing) supervisor who once taught music. Mathieu is shocked at the inhumanity and injustice of what he finds, and sets about finding ways to instil a sense of fairness and caring among the boys. Above all, he instils a sense of self worth and self-respect by listening to the boys and talking to them as human beings, while maintaining discipline based on mutual respect rather than fear and authority.

This is the story of the difference one man can make. Though his is not a story of ambition and professional success, we are inspired by the success he has in developing the boys’ basic humanity, something he manages to convey not so much in what he teaches, but in the way he goes about it.

Below, you will find some headings and suggested vocabulary to help you write a response to the film. You may, of course, choose quite different headings and vocabulary for your response. Don’t forget these are only ideas and you need to try to develop these ideas, or your own thoughts, further.

In writing a response to the film, you should aim at producing 150-200 words.

Décrivez le directeur

Je trouve (que)

Je dirais que

A mon avis

Le directeur

Le principal

Sévère

Peu …

Attentif aux besoins de ses élèves

Il croit à …

Égoiste

Chercher la gloire

Impoli

Envers

Supérieur

Professionnel

Cruel

Est

Était

Décrivez le collège et son système de discipline

Je dirais que

Je trouve

J’ai trouvé

Délabré

Vieux

Mal tenu

Mal équipé

Rigide

Désagréable

Le système de discipline

Exagéré

La punition

Efficace

Excessif

Que pensez-vous des garcons?

Je les trouve

Ils sont

En général

Mais

Pauvre

Malheureux

Seul

Se sentir

Chanter

Gentil

Aimable

Décrivez Clément Mathieu, et comment le trouvez-vous?

Humain

Gentil

Aimable

Sympathique

Ambitieux

Sensible

Altruiste

Protéger

Vouloir (il veut)

Contre

Par le moyen de la musique

Choisissez un des thèmes du film et discutez-en.

L’humanité

Traiter comme un être humain

La discipline excessive

L’influence d’un homme

Changer la vie

Répondre

Qu’avez-vous pensé du film en général?

J’ai trouvé ce film

C’était

Super

Rigolo

Amusant

Parfois

Sérieux

Touchant

Simpliste

A la fois

Ça m’a fait réfléchir

Réaliste

Peu réaliste

Trop

Ne … pas assez …

Bien joué

Mal joué

La mise en scène