In One Month


Last September 1 was the 3rd monthsary of my stay here in Manila. So what has haappened so far to your dear bloggie. Well, he has rejected two job offers already in the hope of getting the job in Cebu, which unfortunately froze its hiring until December .. well, all I can say God's plans are mysterious in ways humans just can't imagine or comprehend.
Anyway, starting last week, SM Megamall hosts a variety of Europe's best films for FREE... so why not make use of it. The best things in this world are free. Anyway, the event's called "Cinema Europa" and scheduled different films from UK, Portugal, France, Germany, etc in among 2:00, 4:30, 7:00 and 9:30 times slots.

Last Wednesday, I was looking forward to see a film from France called "Les Choristes", in English, "The Choir". So after having my dinner some time in 8:30, I proceeded to Mega A, 3rd floor. When I got there, several people lined up already so I looked for the end of the line and found myself, two cinemas away. More people came until the whole cinema hall was filled with a snakelike line (parang snake sa Nokia) ... By 9:00 the guards let us enter the cinema...

"Les Choristes", is a simple, yet touching story that tells us how music can change the life of a person. Pierre Morhange is a well-renowned musical composer of his time when he got a call from France that prompted him to back there since his mother died. After the funeral, an old man knocked on his door and introduced himself as Pepinot. It took him for a while to remember him, afterwhich he recognized him as his very little classmate at Fond L'etang, were they used to go to school. While they talked, they reminisced the their old times at Fond L'etang and of course the teacher who changed their lives. Pepinot drew out a diary meant for Pierre. It was the teacher's diary. Clement Matthieu's.

Clement Mathieu arrived at Fond L'etang just to answer the call of his teaching services. When he arrived there, he came upon a small boy by the gate. Asking him why he was there, the boy said that he was waiting for his parents to come on Saturday. The boy was Pepinot. As Clement had known later, he was in a state of denial believing that his parents would take him someday on Saturday but in reality his parents are already dead. Since it's not Saturday yet, Clement took the boy with him. Clement was greeted by a huge culture shock and it took quite a little while for him that he is indeed in a school of juvenile delinquent boys, who set dangerous pranks upon their teachers. To retaliate against their behavior, the principal, Monsieur Rachin, developed his radical method of disciplining the students, called as "Action-Reaction". It's like what you saw is what you reap.

Anyway, Clement Matthieu couldn't just subdue the boys' behavior ... so if you can't beat them, join them (in a subtle manner)... Apart from being rowdy all the time, he observed that the boys love to sing and compose really nasty lyrics about their teachers. So being a retired composer himself he experimented on teaching the students to sing as a choir... Morhange was a boy who tried to be tough by being delinquent. In fact he's just a lonely boy who misses his mother dearly and pretended to hate her so much. When the choir started practicing he couldn't join since he had detentions to do. However, when the practice was over, he would rehearse by himself what he just heard... and he's got a very pure voice, very awesome voice. Anyway, Clement caught him singing by himself one time and asked him to join them after his detention... he just shrugged. Meanwhile, Clement fell in love with Pierre's mother. Pierre's mother has been frequently visiting him but couldn't find the right time to talk to him since he was in detention so it was Clement who entertained her more often ... telling her how good her son is and so y'know the drill. When, finally Pierre get to talk to his mother, he felt safe and followed her advice to join Clement's choir. And so the choir practiced more and they sound very beautifully... all was quite well in Fond L'etang even Rachin noticed it... until Modain came. He was a student from almost pyschotic school for boys, and was recommended to Fond L'etang for his improved behavior. This guy was threatening everybody, even the little Pepinot. He was put into punishments more often until he was accused of stealing the school's money that he was sent back to his old school. Meanwhile, Morhange became suspicious of Clement's behavior towards his mother that he back again to his bad boy behavior and refused to sing his solo in the choir. Clement Matthieu took notice of this and told him that he's not to sing anymore. Morhange was hurt since he did not really intend to go that far. Anyway, the school's benefactor heard of the choir and requested them to sing when she visits there. All were assembled and Clement start to conduct. Pierre was standing on one corner. His eyes full of longing to be in there. However when his solo part came, Mattieu turned toward his direction and conducted his solo for him. Pierre was happy and so bati na sila. One hot summer day, Clement noticed that the boys are restless. And while Rachin was off to central Lyon, he decided to bring the boys in the woods to play and explore. When they came back, they found out that the boy classrooms are burning. Rachin was frantic when he got a call to go back since parents have come, screaming. However, Clement came out from the woods with the boys and with their utility man, Maxence from their stroll. All sighed a cry of relief, knowing that the children are safe. However Rachin was so angry and he fired Clement and that he was not allowed to talk to the boys when he leaves. Clement left the school, however out from the window, the boys sent their letters by improvising it into a paper plane, thanking him for all that he's done to them. At a distance, when Clement was about to board a bus, Pepinot came running after him, asking him to take him with him. Clement shooed him away but Pepinot did not move. However, Clement took pity and he got on with Pepinot with him... and by the way, Pepinot's wish came true... that day was Saturday.

Later on as narrated, Pierre's mother enrolled him into a musical school in Lyon. Rachin was fired upon testimonies of the teachers of his radical disciplinary methods. Pepinot grew up with Clement Mattieu. Clement continues to teach music for ordinary people. Before I forgot, it was Modain who burned the school.