ORCHESTRA SEATS (UK) aka AVENUE
MONTAIGNE (USA) aka FAUTEUILS D'ORCHESTRE
Year: 2006
USA: THINKFilm
UK: Optimum Releasing
Cast: Cecile de France, Valerie Lemercier, Albert Dupontel, Laura Morante, Claude Brasseur, Christopher Thompson, Syndney Pollack, Dani, Annelise Hesme, François Rollin, Daniel Benoin, Françoise Lepine, Guillaume Gallienne, Christian Hecq, Julia Molkhou, Suzanne Flon, Michel Vuillermoz, Laurent Mouton, Werner Werner, Marc Roufiol, Simon de Pury, Michele Brousse, Eve Ruggieri, Susana Poveda, Kaori Tsuji, Franck Amiack, Ahcene Nini, Caroline Morin, Laurent Petitgirard, Thierry Metaireau, Sabrina Ouazani, Frantz Morel A L'Huissier, Sigolene Vinson, Martine Erhel, Ludovic Meacci, Antoine Nembrini
Director: Daniele Thompson
Country: France
Language: French (English subtitles)
USA: 106 mins
UK: 105 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for some strong language and brief sexuality
UK Certificate: 12A contains infrequent strong language
USA Release Date: 16 February 2007 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 23 February 2007
US Distributor
UK Distributor
Synopsis
Catherine's (Valerie Lemercier,) a hugely popular star on TV who's adored by everyone but all she dreams about is serious movies and intellectual recognition. By night, she records her 100th episode and by day, rehearses a play at the Comedie des Champs-elysees theater. She's overworked but the show opens on the 17th, and you've got to be up to playing in a Feydeau farce, even if you'd prefer to be doing Sartre.
Jean-François (Albert Dupontel is a gifted, popular pianist often overbooked and on the 17th will be playing Beethoven next door, in one of the finest concert halls in the world, with the most talented musicians and the most sophisticated of audiences. But all he dreams about is solitude, freedom, and an uncultivated and naïve audience.
Jacques (Claude Brasseur) has spent his life seeking out and discovering artists, raiding his piggy bank to collect rare works of art. On the 17th, Jacques will sell the lot. In one single evening, his life's work will be split up and scattered around the world.
Jessica's grandmother, a former five-star hotel lavatory attendant, once told her: "I didn't have the means to live in luxury, so I decided to work in it instead". One day Jessica too tries her luck in Paris. On the 17th, the cafe opposite the two theaters and the saleroom needs extra help and Jessica gets the job.
This is where they all come - actress, pianist, collector, waitress, concierge, son of one, wife of another
- to nurse their neuroses over a coffee or a steak tartare.
Confronted by this world she once believed was magical, Jessica loses her illusions but she does find the key to a new life - watch out for the FAUTEUILS D'ORCHESTRE - too far away and you miss half the show, too close and you see nothing at all.