The Marching Band Review
The Marching Band perfectly blends humour, a heartwarming story, and sharp social commentary, all underscored by a beautiful classical soundtrack. Emmanuel Courcol’s En Fanfare has been widely celebrated in France throughout 2024, becoming one of the country’s highest-grossing films of the year. It has also earned seven César Award nominations for 2025, including Best Film, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Male Revelation.
The film follows Thibaut Desormeaux (Benjamin Lavernhe), a renowned orchestra conductor who is suddenly diagnosed with leukemia. While searching for a bone marrow donor, Thibaut discovers he was adopted. This revelation leads him to reconnect with his biological brother, Jimmy Lecocq (Pierre Lottin), a factory worker with a passion for music.
What unfolds is a deeply moving story about identity, belonging, and the unexpected strength of familial bonds. Although the film’s opening feels a little rushed, eager to set up the central relationship between the brothers, it quickly finds its rhythm. Once it does, it becomes a poignant and rewarding experience. Benjamin Lavernhe continues to prove himself to be one of France’s most compelling actors. His performance as Thibaut captures a wide emotional range: the joy and freedom he experiences through music, the fear of his illness, and the bittersweet realisation of what he might lose just as he finds it. His portrayal makes Thibaut’s journey both relatable and deeply touching.
The soundtrack plays a central role in shaping the film’s emotional landscape, particularly Maurice Ravel’s Boléro, which recurs throughout. It serves as a metaphor for Thibaut’s arc: starting gently and hesitantly, then swelling into a rich, unified crescendo. Like the piece itself, the film gradually builds toward harmony, bringing together Thibaut, Jimmy, and the small-town marching band at the heart of the story.
Pierre Lottin is a standout as Jimmy. Nominated for Best Male Revelation, his performance is energetic and nuanced, capturing Jimmy’s struggle to balance ambition with loyalty to his working-class roots. His chemistry with Lavernhe feels genuine, and his emotional growth gives the film its most resonant moments, particularly in a moving finale that stays with you long after the credits roll.
The Marching Band is unmistakably French in its sensibility: a comedy that weaves art and social critique into everyday life, but it transcends its genre. It’s a story about brotherhood, second chances, and the healing power of connection and creativity. Its emotional realism, musical elegance, and heartfelt performances make it one of the most memorable films of the year.
★★★★ 1/2
In UK cinemas May 16th / Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Lottin, Sarah Suco / Dir: Emmanuel Courcol / Vertigo Releasing / 15
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