Bach et Bottine

Kids will love this movie. And parents might like it too! To enjoy it properly though, I think you would have to know french and be able to watch it in that language.

Fanny (Mahée Paiement) is only 10 and she's living with her grand-mother (France Arbour) because her parents died in an accident a few years before. But the grand-mother can't take care of her anymore so she ask her nephew, Jean-Claude (Raymond Legault), to care for little Fanny.

So Fanny moves in with Jean-Claude, her uncle. But the cohabitation is not easy. Jean-Claude is use to live alone and he doesn't know too much about children. While trying to find a new family for Fanny (even though she doesn't want to hear about it), Jean-Claude is learning a lot about himself and his relations with others.

The movie takes place in beautiful Québec city. You can see the old town, the Château Frontenac, the Plaines d'Abraham, etc.

When that movie came out, I was only 13, and I fell in love with Mahée Paiement, the girl who played Fanny! Even today, I think she's one of the prettiest actress in French Canada. You can see her occasionally in the tv-series «Un gars, une fille».

Out of 100, I gave «Bach et bottine» 70.

Fanny has lived with her grandmama for quite awhile. Sadly, her parents are deceased yet life is good with G-ma. This changes the day that the older lady realizes her health is not so good and she must go into a nursing home. Therefore, Grandmama brings Fanny to the home of her uncle, her dad's brother. He MUST be compelled to look after the nine year old gal. But, there are complications. First, the uncle is a bit odd. He quit his job to concentrate on winning an organ contest, for playing the instrument is his greatest joy. Plus, he is too shy to accept the quiet advances of a pretty female who works for his former firm. Even more, there is another secret as to why he is reluctant to take Fanny under his roof. But, seeing there is no alternative, he agrees to do so. What he doesn't know, at first, is that Fanny has brought her pet skunk and hamsters to live with them as well. When this is revealed, he is less than pleased. But, perhaps Fanny has the hidden talent of matchmaking and can bring romance into his life as well as break down his aversion to get close to anyone? This beautiful, heartfelt film is a gift from France. No one will recognize the actors' names but that's not important. What does matter is the universal themes of human connection, forgiveness, and learning to live after great disappointment. The scenery is also quite wonderful as is the lovely Bach melodies dotting the score. The version I saw was dubbed into English very well and presented no difficulties in the appreciation of a fine, fine flick. Families, especially those who are part of blended relatives, will benefit so much from a view!

It's been awhile since I re-watched this film, but when they did show it a year or so ago, I saw it again and again! Embedded in this film is the essence of the magic of childhood, with all its wide-eyed wonder, sincerity of feeling, its optimism and its madness! It's something that, as we grow older, we tend to experience by lesser and lesser degrees, partly because it seems much easier just being blase about things happening around you...

Mahée Paiement is excellent as Fanny. If it were not for her completely natural, endearing performance, this film might not have worked. Even Raymond Leygault as Fanny's uncle is really good. Fanny's friendship with Charles, her neighbour is really engaging and humorous. I gather this film has been shot in Quebec. And as such, the city lends its own unique beauty to the film. Snow and Christmas enhance the aura of the film even more. Music of course is an important part of the film. Be it the songs used around Fanny and her friends or the Bach pieces, they suit perfectly. This film made me actually want to go and buy a Bach CD! It's a great way to introduce classical music to kids. It's definitely something in the line of the Classical Kids series(made by the Canadian Children's Group Co.) - a series of audio films fusing facts about the lives of great classical musicians with a fictional story, usually narrated by a kid. I have one of the films in the series, called 'Beethoven Lives Upstairs'. It's so beautifully made and movingly narrated, it's inspirational! The series does have a film on Bach too, called 'Mr. Bach Comes to Call'.

Anyway, just want to say, that I highly recommend 'Bach and Broccoli'. Like Fanny's uncle who underwent a transformation of sorts, watching this film was a re-affirming experience. This is one of the best Children's films I've ever seen. The categorization shouldn't misguide anyone. For all the wisdom packed in this unpretentious film, it is indeed, more for grown ups than kids. I saw this film in English and as per another reviewer over here the English version is not good. Well...I loved it! Only wish I knew French better to appreciate this film even more!

Fanny (Mahee Paiement) is a young orphan girl who is sent to live with her detached Uncle Jonathan (Raymond Legault) when her grandmother enters a nursing home. As Jonathan prepares for an organ recital of music by Bach, he tries to provide a proper environment for his young niece.

Fanny collects other animals in addition to her pet skunk Broccoli with the help of her upstairs neighbor Sean (Harry Marciano). Just before Fanny is to enter a foster home, Jonathan realizes he loves the little girl and makes a promise to keep her and her animal menagerie.

Beautiful, touching and intelligent, this film is good for people of all age.

But don't ever rent this movie in english...never!

My Rating:7/10