The Singer

2006

112 mins

Directed by Xavier Giannoli
25%
63%
Drama
Music
Romance

A French, May-December love story following 50 something Alain (Depardieu). Alain's a local celebrity in Clermont-Ferrand, where he sings jolly-cum-sentimental... More

A French, May-December love story following 50 something Alain (Depardieu). Alain's a local celebrity in Clermont-Ferrand, where he sings jolly-cum-sentimental faves in a dance hall till 3:30 a.m. A pro who never misses his marks, despite an encroaching sense of being in the twilight of his career, Alain spots a beautiful young blonde, Marion (de France), in the audience one night and -- karamba! Marion is unimpressed at first by the chanteur when he parlays a meeting the next day. But Alain's quiet persistence and frank, self-deprecating attitude finally tempt her to a night between the sheets -- but she makes a clandestine exit next morning before the old boy wakes.

Alain's passion is not discouraged by Michele (Christine Citti), his manager and ex-wife, so long as he keeps on with his career. But Marion, who has a young son by a previous liaison, is extremely cautious; despite a growing attraction to Alain, she doesn't want to fall too easily for his evidently practiced charm.

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The Singer | Ratings & Reviews

25_%106 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes® rating
63_%9,384 reviews
Audience score rating

"A May-December love story of subtle surfaces concealing a generous heart, Gerard Depardieu starrer "The Singer" hits all its emotional gracenotes with spot-on pitch. As an aging dance hall singer smitten by a wary young woman, the portly thesp is at his best in years, conjuring remarkable onscreen chemistry between himself and actress Cecile de France..."

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Variety

"The prodigally productive Depardieu turns in a perfectly inflected performance, full of grace and skill and with none of the curdled cynicism a lesser actor would have brought to the role. De France, as pretty and fresh as he is craggy and worn out, is a good foil but it is Depardieu's film..."

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New Zealand Herald

"One gets so used to Gerard Depardieu's fine performances in film after film that one almost takes him for granted. Then comes along "The Singer," in which he rattles your senses with a performance so simple and understated that you realize all over again what a profoundly brilliant and charismatic actor he is..."

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Hollywood Reporter

"Alexandre Desplat's score is as eclectic and complicated as the characters, while Yorick Le Saux's first-rate cinematography makes good use of France's finest interior decor and De France's exterior decor..."

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