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Avenue Montaigne (film)

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Wikipedia article




'Fauteuils d'orchestre' (literal translation, 'Orchestra Seats') is a French film released in 2006 directed by Danile Thompson, which she co-scripted with her son, Christopher Thompson. The film was released in the United Kingdom and Australia as 'Orchestra Seats', and in the United States and English-speaking Canada as 'Avenue Montaigne'.;

Production



Valrie Lemercier was awarded a Csar Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance. The movie was nominated for another four Csars and also received a shortlist nomination for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. The film is dedicated to Suzanne Flon (Madame Roux in the cast), who died after the film was completed.

Cast



* Ccile de France Jessica

* Valrie Lemercier Catherine Versen

* Albert Dupontel Jean-Franois Lefort

* Claude Brasseur Jacques Grumberg

* Dani Claudie

* Christopher Thompson Frdric Grumberg

* Laura Morante Valentine Lefort

* Annelise Hesme Valrie

* Sydney Pollack Brian Sobinski

* Franoise Lpine Magali Garrel

* Guillaume Gallienne Pascal

* Suzanne Flon Madame Roux

* Michel Vuillermoz Flix

* Sabrina Ouazani Rachida

* Franois Rollin Marcel

* Daniel Benoin Daniel Bercoff

* Christian Hecq Grgoire Bergonhe

* Julia Molkhou Margot

* Laurent Mouton Serge

* Marc Rioufol Claude Mercier

Plot



Jessica has moved from her small Burgundian town of Mcon to Paris to start a new life, inspired by her grandmother, Madame Roux, who "always loved luxury". In Paris, she initially has trouble finding work, and spends one evening without shelter. She eventually gets a job waitressing in a small caf, the Bar des Thtres, even though the caf, following tradition, has never before hired female waiters. The owner hires Jessica only because he is expecting large crowds soon and needs staff. The caf is in an area of Paris close to several artistic venues, including the Thtre des Champs-lyses and a concert hall, on Avenue Montaigne. One of the backstage staff at the theatre, Claudie, helps to welcome Jessica to Paris. While working at the caf, Jessica meets a number of people who are all dealing with various life crises or changes:

* Catherine is an actress who has been type-cast by her role in a popular TV soap opera and who yearns to do more artistically rewarding work. She is alternating between her TV soap opera and a production of a Georges Feydeau play, rarely getting time for sleep except in taxicabs. A new opportunity arises when the American film director Brian Sobinski arrives in Paris to cast a new film based on the life of Simone de Beauvoir.

* Jean-Franois is a world-renowned pianist who wants nothing more than to share his playing with those who would appreciate it least, and to get away from formal classical music concerts. This disconcerts his wife Valentine, who is also his manager, because of all the planning that she has done for his career.

* Jacques is an art collector who has decided to sell off his collection towards the end of his life. He and his son Frdric have a somewhat strained relationship, not helped by the fact that Jacques is in a relationship with the much younger Valrie, with whom Frdric himself once had an affair. Frdric is also just separated from his wife.

All three face pivotal turning points in their lives on the same night, with Jessica as a thread between all three.

Classical music reference



The French pianist Franois-Ren Duchble was the classical music technical advisor for the film, and performs the solo piano works for the soundtrack. The character of Jean-Franois Lefort in this film incorporates elements of Duchble's own expressed attitudes towards the classical music world. In the film, Jean-Franois states his dislike for the stresses and formality of the classical music world, and wants to perform concerts for children and the ill. This is reflected from public statements that Duchble had made in previous years.

References




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