''When I Was a Singer'' () is a 2006 French musical romantic drama film starring

Gérard Depardieu Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu (, , ; born 27 December 1948) is a French actor. An icon of French cinema, considered a world star in the same way as Alain Delon or Brigitte Bardot, he has completed over 250 films since 1967, most of which as ...

and

Cécile de France Cécile or Cecile is a female given name or surname. People Given name * Ce'cile (Cecile Charlton, born 1976), Jamaican musician * Severin Cecile Abega (1955–2008), Cameroonian author * Cécile Aubry (1928–2010), retired French film actres ...

. It was written and directed by

Xavier Giannoli Xavier Giannoli (born 7 March 1972) is a French film director, screenwriter and producer. In 2010, he was named a Chevalier in the ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres''. Filmography Short film Feature film Producer * '' Demonlover'' (2002) * '' ...

Plot

Alain Moreau sings for one of the few remaining dance-bands in Clermont-Ferrand. Though something of an idol amongst his female audience he has a melancholic awareness of the slow disappearance of that audience and of his advancing years. He is completely knocked off balance when he meets strikingly attractive and much younger businesswoman Marion. She seems distant and apparently otherwise involved but soon shows quiet signs of reciprocating his interest. A brief dalliance turns into something much more complicated and he starts to employ - indeed monopolise - her services as an estate agent by announcing he suddenly must move house.

Cast

as Alain Moreau *

Cécile De France Cécile or Cecile is a female given name or surname. People Given name * Ce'cile (Cecile Charlton, born 1976), Jamaican musician * Severin Cecile Abega (1955–2008), Cameroonian author * Cécile Aubry (1928–2010), retired French film actres ...

as Marion *

Mathieu Amalric Mathieu Amalric (; born 25 October 1965) is a French actor and filmmaker. He has won several César Awards and the Lumière Awards. He is best known internationally for his roles in the James Bond film '' Quantum of Solace'', in which he pla ...

as Bruno *

Christine Citti Christine Citti (born 26 October 1962 in Paris) is a French actress, director and writer. Personal life Her brother, Marc Citti, is also actor. Her father was mayor of Ramoulu in the Loiret Loiret (; ) is a department in the Centre-Val de ...

as Michèle * Patrick Pineau as Daniel * Alain Chanone as Philippe Mariani * Christophe as himself * Jean-Pierre Gos as The mayor

Awards and nominations

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...

(France) **Nominated:

Golden Palm The (; ) is the highest prize awarded to the director of the Best Feature Film of the Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festiv ...

(Xavier Giannoli) *

César Awards The César Award is the national film award of France. It is delivered in the ' ceremony and was first awarded in 1976. The nominations are selected by the members of twelve categories of filmmaking professionals and supported by the French Min ...

(France) **Won: Best Sound (Gabriel Hafner and François Musy) **Nominated: Best Actor – Leading Role (Gérard Depardieu) **Nominated: Best Actress – Leading Role (Cécile De France) **Nominated: Best Actress – Supporting Role (Christine Citti) **Nominated: Best Editing (Martine Giordano) **Nominated: Best Film **Nominated:

Best Original Screenplay The Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay is the Academy Award (also known as an Oscar) for the best screenplay not based upon previously published material. It was created in 1940 as a separate writing award from the Academy Award for Best ...

(Xavier Giannoli)

Alternative titles

''Quand j'étais chanteur'' was released in the United Kingdom under the title ''The Singer''.

References

External links

* 2006 films French romantic drama films 2000s French-language films Films directed by Xavier Giannoli 2006 romantic drama films 2000s musical drama films Films featuring a Best Actor Lumières Award–winning performance Films scored by Alexandre Desplat 2000s romantic musical films 2000s French films 2006 musical films {{romantic-musical-film-stub