Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 22, 2026

When I Was a Singer

When I Was a Singer is a 2006 French musical romantic drama film starring Gérard Depardieu and Cécile de France. It was written and directed by Xavier Giannoli.

Last revised
Jul 22, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
309 w
Citations
2
Source
When I Was a Singer
Directed byXavier Giannoli
Written byXavier Giannoli
Produced byPierre-Ange Le Pogam
Edouard Weil
StarringGérard Depardieu
Cécile De France
CinematographyYorick Le Saux
Edited byMartine Giordano
Music byAlexandre Desplat
Distributed byEuropaCorp Distribution
Release date
  • 26 May 2006 (2006-05-26)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
Box office$10,205,5751

When I Was a Singer (French: Quand j'étais chanteur) is a 2006 French musical romantic drama film starring Gérard Depardieu and Cécile de France. It was written and directed by Xavier Giannoli.

Plot

Alain Moreau sings for one of the few remaining dance-bands in Clermont-Ferrand. Though something of an idol amongst his female audience he has a melancholic awareness of the slow disappearance of that audience and of his advancing years. He is completely knocked off balance when he meets strikingly attractive and much younger businesswoman Marion. She seems distant and apparently otherwise involved but soon shows quiet signs of reciprocating his interest. A brief dalliance turns into something much more complicated and he starts to employ - indeed monopolise - her services as an estate agent by announcing he suddenly must move house.

Cast

Awards and nominations

Alternative titles

Quand j'étais chanteur was released in the United Kingdom under the title The Singer.

References

References

External links