Avenue Montaigne (Fauteuils d'orchestre) (Orchestra Seats) poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Cécile De France, Valérie Lemercier, Albert Dupontel, Claude Brasseur, Dani ... see more see more... , Christopher Thompson , Laura Morante , Sydney Pollack , Suzanne Flon , Annelise Hesme , Michel Vuillermoz , Francoise Lepine , Guillaume Gallienne , Francois Rollin , Daniel Benoin

A fresh-faced orphan from the provinces labors away at the last old-fashioned café on Avenue Montaigne as the Paris theater elite prepare for the biggest night of the year in Jet Lag director Danièle ... read more read more...Thompson's whirlwind comedy of intersecting lives. Jessica (Cécile De France) may have been orphaned at the tender age of four, but her doting grandmother (Suzanne Flon) did her best to bring the motherless girl up right. A one-time ladies' room attendant at The Ritz, Jessica's grandmother was a woman well known for her extraordinary taste. Upon arriving in Paris to work as a waitress at a modest café nestled between a renowned concert hall, a venerable theater, and a high-profile auction house, Jessica soon finds herself interacting with a curious cross section of the thriving entertainment industry. As rehearsals for the upcoming shows get under way and Jessica is assigned the task of delivering food to the hardworking actors and low-earning stagehands, she soon discovers that even the most famous of people are often forced to make difficult decisions in life.Jean-François Lefort (Albert Dupontel) is a classical pianist whose devoted wife has him booked at venues across Europe for the next six years. As the free-spirited musician struggles to eschew the formality of his upcoming concert appearance, self-made businessman Jacques Grumberg (Claude Brasseur) takes time out from his May-December romance and his stressful medical treatment in order to auction off a collection that he has been building his entire life and reach out to his estranged intellectual son, Frédéric (Christopher Thompson). Meanwhile, back on the theater front, popular television actress Catherine Versen (Valérie Lemercier) prepares to star in a farcical play, a famous American film director (Sydney Pollack) begins auditioning actors for an upcoming film about Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, and a cheerful concierge on the verge of retirement (Dani) enjoys her final stint rubbing elbows with the biggest and brightest stars in Paris. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

63% liked it

14,003 ratings

Critics

75% liked it

95 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 46 min.

Directed by: Danielle Thompson

Release Date: November 8, 2006

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: July 17, 2007

Stats: 563 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Avenue Montaigne (Fauteuils d'orchestre) (Orchestra Seats) Avenue Montaigne (Fauteuils d'orchestre) (Orchestra Seats)
Upload a Photo | View All Avenue Montaigne (Fauteuils d'orchestre) (Orchestra Seats) Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (563)

  • puffchunk
    October 18, 2008
    puffchunk
    I was pretty bored through this one. Seemed like a bunch of stuff was happening and I didn't really care all that much.
  • fb1144932598
    February 16, 2009
    fb1144932598
    Sweet tale of a young woman who moves to Paris, takes a job in a restaurant, and becomes involved in the lives of several local celebrities. Each of the characters are facing decisions regarding the future and the tale revolves around how each of them deals with his or her person... read moreal crisis. None of the world's problems are solved, but as an afternoon's light entertainment, this film is quite satisfying. A few questions linger as to motivation in a couple of cases, but not enough to detract from the sweetness of the story. A solid cast and a light hand at the helm by director Danielle Thompson. And Paris, ah, always beautiful.
  • gator681
    February 16, 2008
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]In "Avenue Montaigne," inspired by her grandmother who raised her, Jessica(Cecile De France) ventures forth from her native Macon to Paris. At first, she is unable to get a job but persuades the manager of Bar du Theatres, Marcel(Francois Rollin), that she w... read moreould make a good waitress. It also helps that he is short two workers and that there is a triple event happening in the neighborhood coming up on the 17th involving a concert, an auction and an opening night for a play. The concert is to be given by Jean-Francois Lefort(Albert Dupontel), a virtuoso pianist. A wealthy collector, Jacques Grumberg(Claude Brasseur), is auctioning off his entire collection. And a soap opera star, Catherine Versen(Valerie Lemercier), is acting in a play to prove she can be a serious actress.[/font]

    [font=Century Gothic]"Avenue Montaigne" is a tiresome and uninspired movie set in the art world about a group of people who are making transititions in their lives. Odd as it may sound, Sydney Pollack gives an unconvincing performance as a film director. The movie only looks at art through the prism of fame and money, not talent, promulgating a class system where the unlucky majority is meant to serve the lucky few. Despite that, the movie does have a sound premise which could have worked if it had not been stated out loud in the opening minutes and if more emphasis had been on the rehearsals and less on the soap opera, especially if Jessica had just been relegated to the background, not the foreground.(Even then, she is only confined to one small part of a very large city which is portrayed only in picture postcard cliches.) [/font]
  • wbgoose13
    April 24, 2007
    wbgoose13
    Fr. dramedy is cute enough to stay afloat, heavy enough to remain grounded.
  • patrickdol
    December 13, 2007
    patrickdol
    This film's sweet and I liked getting into the heads of all the characters, well the main ones anyway.
  • Parannoyed
    August 29, 2007
    Parannoyed
    Smooth and mellow... a nice watch on a sunday. Nothing extraordinary, but worth the watch.
  • lovereesie
    May 6, 2008
    lovereesie
    Incredible, wonderful... sympa! It's like a French version of Love Actually, but much more interesting and adorable. The characters remain quite 2 dimensional, but you almost don't mind between the beautiful scenery, wacky character quirks, and endlessly adorable Jessica, played ... read moreby Cécile De France. Un film très charmant!
  • californiatones
    February 14, 2008
    californiatones
    "There comes a day when passing time becomes remaining time..."

    A wonderfully thought provoking line from the character of the older, affluent man auctioning away all his collections.

    This is an interesting movie that looks at lives of fascinating people when they aren't be... read moreing fascinating.

    What's the life of a virtuoso pianist or an actress dreaming of being Jean Beauvoir?

    The dialogue is classic French whim. And although a bit cliche, I found the characters likeable. I especially found much depth in the relationship of the pianist and his wife/manager/accountant/agent/etc.etc.

    His acting of the pianist was quite good. It really looked as if he were playing Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto.

    It dragged towards the end, but the character development made the ending special when we see these ordinary people doing their "extraordinary jobs" in the wonderful simultaneous collage of a piano concerto, stage play, and auction.
  • thrusz
    September 21, 2007
    thrusz
    Cute. This movie is cute. Has it changed my life in any way? Probably not. But I did like this light-hearted story of artists and people living in a rich part of Paris.

    Now, this movie really can be separated by subplots. While it focuses on Cecile De France's character, ... read more(her name is De France! How weird is that?!) some of the more interesting stories come from the artists she meets. The most interesting was the character of the classical pianist. I have never thought in terms of an artist hating his position and the way society views his talent. It was really a treat to watch his struggle and seeing how he balances his personal feelings with his relationship with his wife.

    I have to restate. This movie is just cute. It is really an innocent film with some funny, if not slightly forced, character choices. I do not understand how I am supposed to feel about certian characters, but at the end of the movie, I felt fairly pleased and upbeat.
  • manada1
    July 27, 2007
    manada1
    A great French film. Everyone is centered around Jessica. They want to throw off their old, unsatisfying lives for something better and simple. A good film with a happy ending.

View All Avenue Montaigne (Fauteuils d'orchestre) (Orchestra Seats) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Peter Howell
April 20, 2007
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

A film that seeks to amble it way towards resolution and which offers a few insights and smiles along the way. Full Review

Roger Moore
April 20, 2007
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Even if this fine French meal isn't as rich or feels a little less than it might have been, it's still delightful to sit through, course after winning course. Full Review

Liam Lacey
April 20, 2007
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

The movie is as airy as a spun-sugar dessert, but Thompson's observations on the artistic life are both affectionate and knowing: Beauty and wealth, though inevitably compelling, are appreciated as me... Full Review

Terry Lawson
April 13, 2007
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Watching the charming Avenue Montaigne makes you realize not only how much we miss when mainstream French films are not on the movie menu, but how much we miss when American studios define 'romantic c... Full Review

Robert Denerstein
April 1, 2007
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

It's one of those 'what's-not-to-like' movies, a fantasy about life and Paris that passes painlessly, a trifle elevated by its Parisian settings and our desire to lose ourselves in them.

Bill Stamets
April 1, 2007
Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times

Avenue Montaigne is a bon-bon for culture tourists. Full Review

Ronnie Scheib
April 1, 2007
Ronnie Scheib, Chicago Reader

Thompson's crowd-pleaser makes up in refined schmaltz what it lacks in innovation or profundity. Full Review

Richard Nilsen
March 31, 2007
Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic

When it all wraps up as neatly as the treacliest Hollywood film, we don't feel cheated, but rather enjoy the satisfaction of a story resolved, and we're happy for each of the people we have spent our ... Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
March 29, 2007
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

If you're not going to Paris this spring -- and let's face it, so few of us are -- the next best thing might be Avenue Montaigne. Full Review

Ruthe Stein
March 16, 2007
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

That the film succeeds as well as it does despite a series of coincidences that strain credibility is a credit to a fine cast and a joie de vivre that pervades even the most implausible moments. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Avril
    Avril (50%)

More Movies like Avenue Montaigne (Fauteuils d'orchestre) (Orchestra Seats)

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Avenue Montaigne ... : Watch Free on TV

Avenue Montaigne (Fauteuils d'orchestre) (Orchestra Seats) Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Avenue Montaigne (Fauteuils d'orchestre) (Orchestra Seats). Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Avenue Montaigne (Fauteuils d'orchestre) (Orchestra Seats) Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Avenue Montaigne (Fauteuils d'orchestre) (Orchestra Seats) to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?