Paris 36 (Faubourg 36)

(sony classics / pathe) Release Date: April 3, 2009 Director: Christophe Barratier Writer: Christophe Barratier , Julien Rappeneau, Pierre Philippe Cast: Gérard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac, Kad Merad, Nora Arnezeder, Pierre Richard Plot: It is 1936. Léon Blum is in power, the Socialist Party is active, workers are striking and the weight of the Great Depression is beginning to be felt. When the owner of the local theatre falls behind on a debt, proprietorship passes to the local mob boss. For Pigoil (Gérard Jugnot), a stagehand, this is bad news. His wife has just left him, taking their adorable son Jojo (Maxence Perrin), so when the gangster closes the failing theatre, Pigoil finds himself alone and unemployed. Depressed and running out of money, Pigoil and his friends Milou (Clovis Cornillac), a proud idealist, and Jacky (Kad Merad), a flawed comedian, decide to stand up to the mobster, occupy the theatre and return it to its glory days. But their lineup of amateur cabaret and half-baked comedy looks decidedly lackluster until Douce (Nora Arnezeder), a beautiful young girl from the city, walks into the auditions. Cast as the singing “announcer,” Douce instantly charms the town with her beguiling looks and angelic voice. The Chansonia soon becomes famous all over Paris, but with love triangles, ongoing political tensions, the strain of the Depression and the mob boss's constant swindling, life isn't easy. Genre: Drama, Musical IMDb: tt0948535 Website: www.paris36movie.com