"La mélodie" is a new French 100-minute movie that hit cinemas here in Germany briefly before Christmas 2017. After almost a decade-long break, it is the newest effort by director Rachid Hami, who is also one of the writers here and otherwise also an actor. The main character is played by Kad Merad that is known to most of course from the highly successful "Ch'tis" movie. We'll talk about that one on another occasion. Here we got the story of a successful violinist finding his passion for teaching a group of children from the poorer region of Paris (almost all of a them with immigrant background) to play the violin as they are preparing for a performance at the Philharmonie. Of course, in the end it happens and is a big success and it is a very predictable movie to be honest. But this rarely takes away from its charm. Maybe the electric short part was a bit too much and of course we knew he would not go on tour, but stay with the kids. And the daughter part felt slightly rushed in too as an attempt to give more shades to the main character. But there are also several good aspects like for example the part with the mother or the "violent" reaction early on and the boy's father's reaction etc. It is a very harmonic film eventually, definitely one of the biggest feel-good films I have seen all year and the moments of drama and seriousness are never as severe to make a lasting impression. Maybe real greatness is not reached here at any point, but it is constantly good from start to finish, so real weaknesses are just as inexistent as well. Merad can be described the same. His approach fits the character well, even if it is not a performance that will stay in your mind for months. And another aspect that really needs to be mentioned here is the music, maybe the best aspect of it all. Sure you hear uncontrolled violin noises on many occasions in here as the less talented kids keep practicing, but that belongs to it just like the really beautifully sounding parts usually involving the central character playing the instrument of his choice, but also during the final concert sequence for example. And the film also did nicely in including the audience, for example during the one moment when he asks the kids about what the most important instrument for a violinist would be. So yes, it is easy to appreciate this film for its qualities and look past its flaws and that's why I recommend checking it out. A nice little outsider story that deserves to be seen by more than probably will see it in the end. Of course you will need subtitles if you aren't fluent in French, but I'm sure you won't let this bother you right? Watch it. I certainly give it a thumbs-up.
Review of La Melodie
La Melodie
(2017)
Certainly worth checking out for music/violin lovers
27 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers