The Music Freelancers

Exploring the perils of liberty, the temperament of the artiste and the sheer pleasure that music can bring, this is a delightful ensemble comedy from writer/director Denis Dercourt. Amid all the instrumental rivalries and personality clashes that occur as a freelance chamber orchestra rehearses for a one-off concert, a baby is born, a mournful maestro dies and a petty thief reforms. (Well, almost.) Despite this, these disparate cachetonneurs still manage to make beautiful music. Taken at a pleasingly relaxed tempo, the humour flows from the situations without a hint of contrivance. It's a style that suits the knowing cast, led by Pierre Lacan as the entrepreneurial bassist.