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The Marching Band

Play trailer Poster for The Marching Band 2024 1h 43m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 11 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Thibaut is an internationally renowned conductor who travels the world. When he learns he was adopted, he discovers the existence of a younger brother, Jimmy, who works in a school cafeteria and plays the trombone in a small marching band. Everything seems to set them apart, except their love of music. Sensing his brother's exceptional talent, Thibaut decides to remedy the injustice of fate. Jimmy begins to dream of a different life....

Critics Reviews

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Danny Leigh Financial Times Warm and sure-footed, the film has the feel of a richly satisfying meal in an excellent neighbourhood bistro. Old world pleasures of character and story are generously apportioned. Rated: 4/5 May 15, 2025 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian Director and co-writer Courcol has to manage the plot so that the question of Thibaut’s own emotional life and relationships is more or less forgotten, but the bromance chemistry works well enough and the final concert encore is touching. Rated: 3/5 May 12, 2025 Full Review Tom Shone Sunday Times (UK) ... A low-key egalitarianism pushes the film into an unexpectedly thoughtful, almost Rousseauesque examination of nature versus nurture. Rated: 3/5 May 15, 2025 Full Review Alejandro Lingenti La Nación (Argentina) Depending on the perspective used, The Marching Band can be better or worse. Its humanistic perspective is undeniable, but there's no need to resort to cynicism to conclude that the path it proposes...is closer to an illusion than an attainable goal. Rated: 3/5 May 8, 2025 Full Review Amparo Cabal EscribiendoCine Without ever underestimating the viewer, the film achieves its goals through the humor and emotion that moves it. Because when there's music, words are superfluous. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 8/10 Apr 28, 2025 Full Review Gisela Savdie El Heraldo Although at times the movie is predictable, it manages to move the viewer with its balance between humor and drama, showing how art can overcome barriers and serve as a refuge in difficult moments. [Full review in Spanish] Apr 9, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Karen-Suzanne C The central theme of MUSIC knitted the story together beautifully, and made up for any other mild lacking, plus the authentic characters giving it a fresh raw edge of love, friendship, and family. A confirmation that music has a force and language of its own, that bridges cultural and social differences. Entertaining and moving. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/12/25 Full Review Diego R Me encantó, una maravillosa historia que toca temas como la vida, la hermandad, la identidad y la familia, principalmente; asi mismo la película toca el tema social con el pueblo y la fábrica, y muestra cómo la música puede trascender fronteras de clases sociales e incluso ser un instrumento de transformación. El final aunque en cierto punto pareciera previsible me sorprendió gratamente, no es el más alentador, ese detalle me parece que le da cierto nivel de realismo que me gustó muchísimo, logrando ser bastante conmovedor y emotivo. Tiene personajes entrañables, y en particular sus protagonistas no los sentí planos, muy buenas actuaciones. El guión, a mi parecer, maneja muy bien las dosis de comedia y drama, y hace un uso de la música que me gustó mucho. Super recomendable. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/10/25 Full Review Mary Ann N An absolute gem of a film. Thought-provoking as to the meaning of family. Beautifully acted, with an ending that will leave you in tears. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/25 Full Review Arianna B The red thread of the movie is music. Music as in all sort of forms, from a band, to classical, jazz and even some pop. Music move the hearts and generate feelings and at the same time, also this movie succeeds with that with a beautiful, heartwarming and funny diving into the struggles of two brothers that didn't know about each other's existence and that will have to fight about the injustice of having been living separated and with different upbringing, bringing them to develop in quite different directions, but still having music as the core ground. It is an emotional story and the actors, especially Benjamin Lavernhe are bringing a complete set of feelings and emotions through their great acting. It doesn't get trivial, neither superficial. The emotions are real, not dull. Watch it if you want to feel passion for music and life. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/11/25 Full Review Lorys C A very nice emotional solo. I don't have an easy tear, but my eyes were shining as I left the hall. Masterful performance by Benjamin Lavernhe. The story is very nice, light but not superficial, never dull. Many melodies run through the film, the comedy, the drama, the 'protest' film (it reminded me of Kean Loach). The red thread is music, in its purest manifestations from classical to jazz. The popular declination is very successful, making it a film for everyone. I will take my 9- and 12-year-old children to see it. I think the only "flaw" in the film is the direction. Some parts of the film are not tied together well. But the rendering is still effective and, above all, emotionally impactful. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/04/25 Full Review Max O Beautiful, heart warming, nuanced, funny, fast paced movie with fantastic actors and an unpredictable plot. Other film makers take note, this is how you take your audience seriously. Bravo! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/30/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Marching Band

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Movie Info

Synopsis Thibaut is an internationally renowned conductor who travels the world. When he learns he was adopted, he discovers the existence of a younger brother, Jimmy, who works in a school cafeteria and plays the trombone in a small marching band. Everything seems to set them apart, except their love of music. Sensing his brother's exceptional talent, Thibaut decides to remedy the injustice of fate. Jimmy begins to dream of a different life....
Director
Emmanuel Courcol
Producer
Marc Bordure, Robert Guédiguian
Screenwriter
Emmanuel Courcol, Irène Muscari
Production Co
Agat Films
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
French
Runtime
1h 43m