WE DID IT ON A SONG / Chante ton bac d'abord

North American Premiere • Musical Documentary • France, 2014

DCP • 1.85 • Dolby 5.1 • Color • 82 min

Directed by: David André

Written by: David André

Cinematography: Thibault Delavigne

Film Editing: Bruno Joucla

Original Score: Nicolas Weil, Sylvain Ohrel, Alexandre Lier, with the participation of Gregoire Hetzel

Produced by: Emmanuel François (Brotherfilms)

Cast: Gaelle Bridoux, Nicolas Dourdin, Rachel Motte, Caroline Brimeux, Alex Margolle

International Sales: Cat & Docs • catndocs.com

 

In this musical docudrama hybrid, five working class high school students prepare for graduation exams while looking for ways to escape the lean prospects of adulthood in their economically anorexic hometown. The story’s attractive narrator Gaelle Bridoux sets the tone by applying for art school against her father’s hopes. She and her quartet of friends sing their way through the dreams, anxieties and disillusionments of their senior year, giving voice to an ailing post-industrial France as they go. The risky format is surprisingly effective, contrasting a touching documentary sensibility with charming musical showstoppers written and performed by the kids themselves.

 

When writer/director David André was looking for a setting for We Did It On a Song he knew he’d found the right place when he arrived at Boulogne-sur-Mer, a city facing economic uncertainties, yet retaining a certain coastal beauty and a resilient population. But André was surprised when the local students, parents and teachers resisted his approach. They were convinced to collaborate on the film only after seeing some of the many TV documentaries he had made over the last 15 years.  As a veteran columnist whose writing has appeared in Les Inrockuptibles , Marie Claire, Grazia and Le Monde Magazine, André also brings a journalistic perspective to the project, which has since been nominated for a Best First Film Lumiere Award.

 

Quotes

“A confident and crowd-pleasing boundary-pusher.”

- Michael Pattison EYE FOR FILM

“André orchestrates a moving portrait of several youngsters who define themselves by their acts (in all senses of the term), rather than by where they come from.”

- Jordan Mintzer HOLLYWOOD REPORTER