DIRECTOR
Emmanuel Courcol
The Big Hit

STARS
Benjamin Lavernhe and Pierre Lottin

Thibaut Désormeaux (Benjamin Lavernhe) is an internationally renowned conductor who travels the world doing what he is exceptional at and loves. A life-changing leukemia diagnosis and the search for a forthcoming bone marrow donor, however, inevitably and instantly interrupts that.

Now, The Marching Band, or My Brother’s Band, as it’s also known, is not trading strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion for needles, syringes or any form of medical equipment. Just like its central character does, The Marching Band has every intention of keeping its health crisis as far buried in the background as it can while keeping calm and carrying on with Thibaut’s music adventures, which takes its own unexpected yet meaningful turn.

Thibaut’s only access to a donor arrives with the shock result of a DNA test, which reveals he is in fact adopted and has a younger biological brother, Jimmy (Pierre Lottin), whom he has never met or even knew existed. Jimmy lives a far less privileged and more modest lifestyle, working in a school canteen and playing trombone in a small and very close-knit marching band. Thibaut immediately recognises and seizes the opportunity to connect with his brother through their shared love of music, but Jimmy is more hesitant and feels the burden of expectation surrounding the sudden life or death circumstances in which they’ve met.

Irrespective of Jimmy’s decision and Thibaut’s fate, what I embraced most about The Marching Band is how it is an authentic, relatable and meaningful epitome of life abruptly altering ones plans for it, leaving its protagonist to discover a newfound sense of purpose and adopt a different trajectory in life that still brings a sense of reward with it by the end. This comes to the fore with Thibaut observing Jimmy’s low self-esteem and lack of belief in himself and his capabilities as a musician and knowing he possesses the tools to empower him that can have flow-on effects to the marching band.

For me, but hopefully not for most others, this is where The Marching Band stops taking steps in the direction I wished to see it march towards.

It is quite obvious from early this French comedy-drama is committed to being a more uplifting experience and is therefore hesitant, even unwilling, to get under the surface of any plotting that poses a risk to that. These are Thibaut’s health crisis, his conversations and interactions with family members from the time he discovers he is adopted and certain aspects involving Jimmy, to name a few. Though there is absolutely nothing wrong in aiming to be entirely uplifting and I can appreciate commitment to this over being uneven, I have almost no doubt The Marching Band would have gained greater deepness in both joy it delivers and emotionally resonant it is if it had delved into even a couple of layers there. A great French film example of just that is the much-loved The Intouchables (2011).

Another problem I had throughout The Marching Band was actor Pierre Lottin, playing Jimmy. I found that he acted very wooden and therefore could never really take to his character.

Finally, it is important to note the music, classical music to be precise, is the third most prominent character in this film, which can make it that little bit more of an acquired taste film. As someone who can and often does thoroughly appreciate its scoring in cinema and how it so often enhances scenes it is present, the shift from accompanying a film courtesy of the scenes it is used to being one of the film’s subjects where the script dabbles in the details tested and exceeded my limits of appreciation.

The Marching Band is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from Boxing Day December 26th, 2025.

Moviedoc thanks Palace Films for the invitation to the screening of this film. 

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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