Faubourg 36

Paris 36

(France/Germany/Czech Republic, 2008, 118 minutes)

In 1936 Paris, as the left-wing Front Populaire comes to power, the unemployed crew of a shutdown theatre decides to take charge of the building and get it going once again. Engaging period ensemble comedy-drama with music, a lively throwback to the putting-on-a-show musicals of the thirties coloured by the poetic realism of the French films of the same period; performances are uniformly excellent and production values of a very high standard.

A Pathé release. Galatée Films presents a Galatée Films/Pathé Production/Constantin Film/France 2 Cinéma/France 3 Cinéma/Logline Studios/Novo Arturo Films/Blue Screen Production co-production, with the support of Canal Plus and TPS Star, with the participation of Banque Populaire Images 6, Centre National de la Cinématographie and Procirep. Starring Gérard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac, Kad Merad, Pierre Richard, Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, Maxence Perrin; and Nora Arnezeder. Directed by Christophe Barratier; produced by Jacques Perrin, Nicolas Mauvernay; written by Christophe Barratier, Julien Rappeneau, with the collaboration of Pierre Philippe, based on a story by Frank Thomas, Reinhardt Wagner and Jean-Pierre Derenne; music by Reinhardt Wagner; lyrics by Frank Thomas; director of photography (Arane, widescreen), Tom Stern; production designer, Jean Rabasse; costume designer, Carine Sarfati; film editor, Yves Deschamps; choreographer, Corinne Devaux.