LIFE WAS A LOT SIMPLER WHEN I WAS A SINGER / "QUAND J'ETEAIS CHANTEUR"

Ok, as you know, this year, because of my degree, I have been lucky enough to watch a huge number of films. And as I had small “details” in my agenda such as essays to be written and dissertations to be worked on, although I did my best I couldn’t keep up with reviewing them all. Oh I was full of good intentions at the beginning. I even did a pretty good job at keeping up. But by the end of the year it had, to put it in a nutshell, gone to pot. Despite this sorry state of things I did however have the presence of mind to make a list of the films I desperately wanted to review but didn’t have the time. I was inspired to revisit this one when I finished writing about Can (see above), not least because on first approach it had inspired in me the same dread that I was about to see something very, very cliché. True, it starred veteran actor Gerard Depardieu, however, if one is as prolific with ones acting as M. Depardieu, there are, undoubtedly, some films that are not as good as others. This one is an understated visit to the past. It is, however, the kind of past you want to disown if you’re, you know, cool and all that. It is neither hip nor trendy. However, when you get down to the nitty gritty of it, you actually have a soft spot. So soft, in fact, that you will probably usher it into the back bedroom and tell it to be quiet while the guests are here rather than throw it out. Ok, that analogy was slightly weird. Allow me to explain. Alain Moreau (Gerard Depardieu) is what the French call a “chanteur”. And by that I mean an old-fashioned crooner that sang in the dance halls back in the day before the “discotheques” and all that. Well, the dance halls are all but gone now and those that still survive are frequented by a different generation, not the youth of today but the youths of yesterday; the older people who are out on the town. Alain himself is no spring chicken either, now in his sixties, he is quite content with his life and with being “out of fashion” and in fact a little cheesy. He has his audience – who love him just the way he is – he can pay his bills and frankly doesn’t want more out of life. Until, unexpectedly one night, Marion walks into his life. Marion (Cecile De France – one of France’s most promising young actresses) is beautiful though emotionally scarred and distant and – perhaps more to the point – young enough to be his daughter. Despite all of this however, there is a very real attraction between them. The problem is that Marion’s own battle scars are preventing her from committing to anything, so it is up to Alain, albeit using the “tools” of a previous generation to show her that the two of them can make a go of it. The question is, is he finally out of his depth in this new, high tech world? Or are some things really timeless in their translation to real life? I think now you see what I mean. The storyline, in itself does not seem to hold that much promise. The role of Alain itself is actually a tougher one than would first seem, it takes a lot of skill – and then some – not to come across as a lecherous old man. The truth of the matter is, simply, he does not. Not one teeny bit. Herein lies the mastery of Depardieu, Alain is not so much clinging onto a youth that has passed him by but sticking to what he knows and does best. And, as we have specified above, he is not unpopular, in the little town of Clairmont-Ferrand he is quite a celebrity even if there are less than a handful of music halls left to sing in. I think he is a very refreshing character in today’s fast-paced modern world, and I mean let’s face it, it can feel tiring just keeping up sometimes and much more so if you work in an industry where you have to strive to “get ahead of the game” (i.e. three quarters of the business world). It is refreshing to find, be it in real life or on the screen, characters who are not following “the herd”. Not constantly trying to “keep up”. They do something well, they stick to it and who cares what the fashion magazines / latest trends say. To Alain, it doesn’t even matter that he is seen as a bit of an old fool. He does have the emotional depth and wisdom of years but he doesn’t necessarily show it that clearly to everyone. And the enigmatic Marion is definitely not just anyone. I defy you not ending up feeling a great love and sympathy for Alain by the end of the film. I have great respect for those who follow their own unique path in this world. And as you watch him, you may well get that feeling of nostalgia, you know, as if you’re watching a parent or a friend’s video from 10 – 20 years ago. It’s all about the melancholy of keeping something that is almost dead alive – and doing it mighty well. Although this is something older viewers (not that much older mind you, I’m only 29) will understand better. As a side note, it turns out Depardieu actually did all his own singing in the film – and boy can he do it well! My favourite is the song that gives the film it’s title – quand j’etais chanteur – that he sings right at the very end (along with the credits). Anyway, give it a whirl and see what you think.