The Music Teacher

The title character in the Belgian-French The Music Teacher is a retired opera star, played by Jose Van Dam . The teacher's most gifted pupil is singer/musician Anne Roussel . Her love for her teacher is one of the motivating factors of the story, as is Roussel and Van Dam's relationship with another pupil, petty thief Philippe Volter . Complicating matters is one of Van Dam's old enemies, who endeavors to exploit the talents of the pupils. Written and directed by Gerard Corbiau , The Music Teacher unfortunately drags whenever the principals stop singing and start talking. But what singing! And what cinematography! Small wonder that this film was nominated for a "Best Foreign Picture" Academy Award. — Hal Erickson