Boychoir movie review (trailer)

It is about a group of angel-voiced young boys at the American Boychoir School, who are coached by Dustin Hoffman, with another sterling performance from this veteran actor. Francois Gerard’s production is not drenched in treacle and it finds a wonderful balance between the musical aspects of the story and the drama faced by the various characters. In the end, though, it’s those magnificent voices of the pre-teen sopranos that light up the screen – and Hoffman is just along to support them.

Girard, who directed The Red Violin, makes a welcome return with this boarding school drama which, while predictable, still ticks all the right boxes. The urgency of the film is that these boys have a short shelf life and must make the most of their God-given talent before they have to face the realities of life. The film looks at a single season in the life of one such soprano, an angry Texas boy, Stet (Garrett Wareing), who is blessed with an uncanny musical ability, but who was raised with neither training nor encouragement. He is the illegitimate son of an alcoholic waitress and a wealthy father (Josh Lucas) who abandoned them.

Although Stet is aggressive and a nuisance at his public school, his principal (Debra Winger), miraculously picks up on his potential. She begs Carvelle (Hoffman), the headmaster of the American Boychoir School, to audition the troubled 11-year-old for a spot in his elite choral programme.

The day of the audition his mother is killed in a car crash and Stet goes to pieces and fails the audition. However his wealthy father, George, comes up with a hefty “donation” to ensure Stet gets into the elite school. While the school’s practical-minded headmistress (Kathy Bates) gratefully takes the “donation,” Carvelle resents this approach, holding this bribery against his new student and making the boy’s life miserable.

Sharing the skepticism is his deputy, Drake (Eddie Izzard), an ambitious would-be English choirmaster whose heart is set on inheriting Carvelle’s chair. Drake’s competitive fervour ultimately sours the group, creating ruthless rivalry between the arrogant lead singer (Joe West) and the friendless Stet.

As Stet, the angel-faced Garrett Wareing holds it all magnificently together and is a name to note. The film celebrates the centuries-old art of religious choral arrangements and its inspiring singing.