MovieChat Forums > Les choristes (2004) Discussion > Not sure about the ending.

Not sure about the ending.

posted 15 years ago by mike-h
7 replies | jump to latest

Just watched it on BBC4 and loved it. But let's just get it straight. So lets assume Pepinot disappeared from the school that Saturday. Was it just assumed his dad (who everyone knew was dead) collected him? He would have been missed and looked for and 10 people on a bus would have witnessed him get on....and we're asked to believe that Pepinot stayed with his new dad...then, 50-odd years later, on the day that Morhange's mum is buried, Pepinot arrives with Mathieu's diary/scrapbook (supposing that Mathieu must have died many years before) to show him.

Great film but I think even I could have written a more convincing ending. I'm all for artistic license but this was pushing it a bit.

[–] yxus 15 years ago

I have the same feeling, completely agree with you!0

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] lovemelaus 15 years ago

Well there could be many possibilities:

1. Others pupils or/and the janitor/teacher/woman housekeeper could have saw Pepinot ran away towards Mathieu, and knew that the boy was in good hand so they didn't pursue the matter further;

2. The principal could care less as things were definitely in @#$% chaos after the dorm was burn down, and he could care even less as he just blew his chance of getting a promotion and a rise in pay due to this mess from the fire incident;

3. Mathieu wrote or phoned them that the boy was with him and that he would take good care of him;

4. The authority was informed about a missing ORPHAN, however, when societies're still in rebuilding in the post-war era, it's all possible that the matter was not taken seriosly and investigated thoroughly;

5. Mathieu could be teaching music in neighbouring country with Pepinot following him, therefore they couldn't be found by the French authority.

There, I just gave you 5 reasons. You could add some more. See, it's just too easy to complain without thinking hard.

As for the diary, Monhange just happened to be back to France for his mum's funeral, so Pepinot use this opportunity to show him the diary. What's wrong with that? And Mathieu may still be alive, living in a retirement village with dimentia or something.

You cannot just expect the movie to tell you everything. The movie is not pushing hard, yet you need to push yourself harder in terms of imagination.

[–] enbilal 15 years ago

Here is one more. The missing orphan is reported, witness point towards Mathieu. But he calls himself and explains the whole situation to the authorities, and applies for adoption. After some time he gets the custody.

"As for the diary, Monhange just happened to be back to France for his mum's funeral, so Pepinot use this opportunity to show him the diary. What's wrong with that? And Mathieu may still be alive, living in a retirement village with dimentia or something."

Exactly.

“The British cinema is made of dullness...“ - F. Truffaut

[–] geoffrey-jackson 11 years ago

Thank you, Enki, for the proposed ending. It filled a void created in OP. Not that it bothered me as I really enjoyed the film none the less. I found it very uplifting. Wonderful story, good acting, splendid music, fine cinematography and excellent directing.

For the record, I rated this film 9/10 - 8 for the film itself and a bonus point for the choice of actors.

[–] Redart27 10 years ago

Yes, it was a little too quick at the end. Seems they wanted to wrap up with a happy ending. They could have flashed back to old Pepinot and have him give a little explanation. I am sure in those days (post war France) they would have been relieved to take a boy out of a poorly funded system and place him in the custody of a kind teacher.

http://youtu.be/IAISUDbjXj0

[–] 10 years ago

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