MY BROTHER's BAND/ EN FANFARE

France, 2025, 103 minutes, Colour.

Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Lottin, Sarah Suco, Yvon Martin.

Directed by Emanuel Courcol.

Tres, tres geniale. A film with quite some appeal.

This is a film of music, about music, about performance, about audience enjoyment of listening to and experiencing music. In fact, it has quite a wide range of music from Beethoven, Mozart, through Ravel to Charles Aznavour then (via Verdi’s Triumphal March from Aida) to exuberant piano jazz.

The French title does not give the clue to the relationship between the two central characters as the English title does (nor does the American title, The Marching Band). The first of the brothers, Thibaut, we meet (and it is not too long before we discover the second brother) is a world-renowned orchestra conductor as well as composer. He is played convincingly and with some sympathy by Benjamin Lavernhe. We see him vigorously in action, conducting Beethoven, encouraging the players, perfecting their performance – and then his collapsing.

Then, something of a familiar theme from many movies and television shows, leukemia, the need for marrow transplant, his discovery that he has been adopted, and tracking down his blood brother – all very quickly because the film wants to introduce us to Jimmy, cook in an industrial town, local workers long laid off and protesting against closure, a different world from that of Thibault.

The audience is caught up in the drama of encounter, meetings, each man of discovering processing that he has a brother, each wondering about their life and what is might have been had they been brought up together, in the affluent world or the workers world. And, then the music, audiences enjoying growing realisation of Jimmy’s innate talent, and his participation in the town’s local marching band (and, of course, a range of eccentric characters in the band, rehearsing for a competition).

Quite a lot happens with the drama of the relationship between the two brothers, ups and downs, help, misunderstandings, touches of resentment. But, it is the band which brings them together, rehearsing, assistance from Thibaut, Jimmy trying to learn how to conduct, Thibaut meanwhile composing and preparing for a public performance.

But, what brings them musically together is Ravel’s Bolero and the memory that the closer was inspired by a visit to a factory with its industrial rhythms. The band members audition, singing the various rhythms at different pitches. It all comes together in a wonderful performance of Bolero, band and orchestra, audience enraptured (especially us) and what might be described as he is one joy as we come to this and of a story which is both happy and sad.

And with films like this, vive La France.

1. Audience response to films of music? Of orchestras? Bands?
2. The French atmosphere, the city, orchestras and rehearsals, performance, theatres? The contrast with the country town, the factory, clashes, houses, cafes, the countryside?
3. The role of music, orchestral, from Beethoven and Mozart…? The band music, Verdi, Aida? And jazz and popular songs? And Ravel and Bolero?
4. The French title music, the Australian title and bands, the American title and the marching band? Emphases?
5. The story of the two brothers, the later revelation about their mother, her age, the adoption, the two different families, their not being kept together, no information to either? The leukaemia, the need for marrow transplant, the DNA search, the result?
6. Thibaut and his story, inductor and success, seeing him with the orchestra, the intensity, his collapse? His mother, joking with his sister, the transplant, the truth about her DNA? His getting the information about his brother? Meeting, the initial relationship, the development, ups and downs?
7. Jimmy, his story, the working family, the photo of his mother, his work, cooking, divorce, daughter, the workers with the food leftovers? In the band? His ability to play the trombone?
8. The interaction between the brothers, on a personal level, shared memories, the various resentments? Thibaut appreciating Jimmy and his trombone abilities, perfect pitch and illustrating it?
9. Thibaut and his professional world, with the orchestra, training conductors and his style, at home composing, the preparation of his work, the preparations for the performance? His assistant? Relationship with his mother, his sister, with the adoption issue and his not knowing?
10. The local band, the characters, the loss of the conductor and the social situation, his going to Romania? The various members and their eccentricities, personalities? Sabrina and the family, her attraction to Jimmy?
11. The issue of the conductor, the practices, Aida, the visit from Thibaut, the decisions about his helping, re-seating the positions of the band, the progress? Jimmy and his reactions, talking with his brother, preparing for the audition, her going, is trying out, the barrier, the rejection, and Thibaut recognising his voice, the discussion, Jimmy and his disappointment, withdrawal?
12. The issue of food, Jimmy and his defiance, getting the sack? Anthony, Down syndrome, his work in the kitchen, in the band, friendly?
13. The issue of the strike and protest, the factory, a place for rehearsals, the fire, the taking of the musical instruments?
14. Thibaut, offering to help, the audition for each to sing, overcome the difficulties, his explanation about Bolero and Ravel hearing the sounds in the factory? The rehearsals, Jimmy returning?
15. The buildup to the climax, and Thibaut and his composition, the performance, the orchestra, acclaim? The band present in the theatre, the beginning of Bolero, the singing, the effect on the audience, Jimmy conducting, the orchestra beginning to join in, the audience and their singing, the climax?
16. The happiness of the ending, tearful, the human spirit, despite setbacks and disappointments?