Friday 15 February 2008

歌聲伴我心

繼續我的鼠年新春電影回顧。除了英語外,我不懂得任何歐洲語言,但對歐洲電影有特殊偏好,因為調子多變,內容較富思想一點,在攝影、美術、音樂方面的觸覺多有一種率性的敏銳、細膩。

有人說《歌聲伴我心》(Les Choristes) 是音樂版《暴雨驕陽》(Dead Poet's Society)(不是說《生命因你動聽》(Mr. Holland's Opus) 才是麼?),《歌》的劇情較《暴》輕鬆得多,至少沒有搞出人命。但相同的是,教師躊躇滿志,卻未及春風化雨,已遭傳統建制徹底擊敗。這不只是戲劇情節,在現實生活也經常發生。

二次大戰結束後不久,法國一個小鎮有所專門招收頑劣學童的寄宿學校。校長賴桑主張以體罰、隔絕等高壓方式來管教問題少年。新來的舍監馬圖是個懷才不遇的音樂家,想到以音樂為學生、自己和學校帶來生氣,最後連校長也在轉變。然而,劣根已生,長期黑暗難以倏地復明。紙飛機能夠飛翔,也不過是在狹窄的房間內,飛不上青天。

法語預告片(英語字幕)


演主角馬圖的 Gérard Jugnot 一舉手一投足都是戲,一班童星也演出可人。少年莫朗 Jean-Baptiste Maunier 一張天使面孔,卻有魔鬼性格。同時,他擁有一把繞樑三日的美妙歌喉。演暮年莫朗的 Jacques Perrin 是個傳奇人物:曾奪威尼斯影展最佳男主角,27 歲成立電影公司,不久便拍出奧斯卡最佳外語片《大風暴》(Z, 1969,代表阿爾及利亞),1990 年代製作的紀錄片《點蟲蟲》(Microcosmos: Le peuple de l'herbe) 贏得法國凱薩獎。這個在《柳媚花嬌》(Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, 1967) 中的俊美少年 Maxence(也在《星光伴我心》(Nuovo cinema Paradiso, 1988) 中扮演成年的圖圖),於現實生活中,他 50 多歲時生下的小兒子也叫 Maxence,並在本片擔演可愛的皮比諾 (Pépinot) 一角。

影片結局不煽情,而且頗清新:那個有暴力傾向的少年遭校長誣告偷竊而被刑事檢控,後來潛返學校放了一把火泄恨,幸好那天馬圖帶學生郊遊去了,避過一劫。但陰差陽錯,校長為此要解僱馬圖,並禁止學生送行。學生紛紛在宿舍拋出寫上歡送句子的紙飛機,表示對馬圖的崇高敬意。紙飛機上寫着:「再見了,光頭佬!」「再會。」「會再見的。」學生又把自己鎖在宿舍裏,大聲唱起馬圖為他們寫的歌。那些道別的小手尤其可愛。歐洲電影就有這一份內歛,不如好萊塢,全力施放催淚彈。想起《暴雨驕陽》中,學生一個一個站到桌子喊着老師教他們的格言,挺有紅磨坊女郎跳大腿舞的勢頭。

全片印象最深刻的是馬圖跟校長的一場爭論。校長現實,老師講理想,結果老師遭革退。在制度之下,理想總是不名一文的。以前我常常在想,到底怎麼樣的老師才算稱職?現在已經放棄思考這個問題。要是把教學視為一種職業,一種餬口的手段,這個問題就沒有思考的價值。事實上,一個教員甚至一家學校(就看名望和等級),在龐大的制度下往往是微不足道,硬要往理想的層次去鬥爭,恐怕會讓自己鑽牛角尖。

《歌》片同時也把 Jean-Baptiste Maunier 和 Les Petits Enfants de Saint Marc 合唱團介紹了給全世界。

7 comments:

  1. 呀~~~《星光伴我心》,我仍然有印象呢 !
    好萊塢戲總是把戲的賣點誇大, 慌死觀眾睇唔明。

    ReplyDelete
  2. 說起《星光伴我心》,我覺得原來版本較後來的導演足本好看:足本在原版結局後加了半小時戲份,足以把原版的浪漫情懷徹底吹散 >_<

    ReplyDelete
  3. I enjoy french films, french films from France are more classy and timeless (e.g les reseaux sauvages, le double vie de veronique, etc) and the accents of the actors are more pleasing to the ears. French Canadian films on the other hand are more contemporary and satirical (e.g C.R.A.Z.Y, Jesus de Montreal, J'en suis), bridging both north american and european cultures. Will write a little more aboout them.

    The name of the choir is actually Les petits chanteurs de Saint Marc. :o) C'est celestial!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Merci beaucoup!!!

    I also like the singing of Jean-Baptiste. His voice is so wonderful like that of an angel. But you probably would not want to listen to his voice now. His old voice is the beauty of the sunset.

    If the Choir comes to HK again, I will invite you to be my partner and buy the most expensive tickets! I really enjoyed their last performance in March 2007. Of course, the video clip you uploaded here is the best of them and Jean-Baptiste! C'est parfait!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Vince,
    Sometimes people regard "Le double vie de veronique" as a Polish film (or a french/polish one) because of the director. Many European movies are timeless and classy. They do not have a specific setting; they just deliver an idea/theme and thus the auidence would have more possible and personal interpretation angles. That's why I feel they are enjoyable.
    Can't wait to see your critique :)

    Keiko,
    I felt regret that I had missed their performance last March after I watched the movie ... LOL.
    I am thinking to get a copy of their concert's DVD.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have one copy of that DVD. If you fail to get one, I can lend you for viewing. It was great! Catch up later.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks in advance, Keiko :) Would let you know if I need it.

    BTW, seeing you typing here, I think you are getting well ^_^

    ReplyDelete