It All Starts Today (1999)
Ça commence aujourd'hui (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Not Rated
- 1h 57min
- Drama
- 12 Mar 1999 (France)
- Movie
A teacher from a small, depressed town is trying to do something useful.
Director:
Awards:
- 12 wins & 8 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Philippe Torreton | ... |
Daniel Lefebvre
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Maria Pitarresi | ... |
Valeria
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Nadia Kaci | ... |
Samia Damouni
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Véronique Ataly | ... |
Mrs. Lienard
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Nathalie Bécue | ... |
Cathy
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| Emmanuelle Bercot | ... |
Mrs. Tievaux
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Françoise Bette | ... |
Mrs. Delacourt
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| Christine Citti | ... |
Mrs. Baudoin
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Christina Crevillén | ... |
Sophie
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Sylviane Goudal | ... |
Gloria
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Didier Bezace | ... |
Inspector
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Betty Teboulle | ... |
Mrs. Henry
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Gérard Giroudon | ... |
Mayor
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Marief Guittier | ... |
Daniel's mother
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Daniel Delabesse | ... |
Marc
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Jean-Claude Frissung | ... |
Director's colleague
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| Thierry Gibault | ... |
Police inspector
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Philippe Meyer | ... |
Council member
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Gérald Cesbron | ... |
Mr. Henry
(as Gerald Cesbron)
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Michelle Goddet | ... |
Beaten child's mother
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Stefan Elbaum | ... |
Beaten child's uncle
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Nathalie Desprez | ... |
Mrs. Bry
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| Françoise Miquelis | ... |
Mrs. Duhem
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Frédéric Richard | ... |
Mr. Bacheux
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Johanne Cornil-Leconte | ... |
Mrs. Bacheux
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Sylvie Delbauffe | ... |
Woman with baby
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Lambert Marchal | ... |
Rémi
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Kelly Mercier | ... |
Laetitia
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Mathieu Lenne | ... |
Jimmy
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Rémi Henneuse | ... |
Kevin
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Corinne Aghte | ... |
Mrs. Paquotte
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Dominique Bouchard | ... |
Doctor
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Benoît Constant | ... |
Daniel's father
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Patrick Courteix | ... |
Mrs. Henry's neighbor
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Véronique Dargent | ... |
Mrs. Loiseau
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Valérie Dermagne | ... |
Nurse
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Lilyane Discret | ... |
Young mother
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Leila Duhem | ... |
Mrs. Polliaert
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Yamina Duvivier | ... |
Mrs. Chimot
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Séverine Fernand | ... |
Angeline's mother
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Catherine Gorosz | ... |
Mrs. Daumise
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Christophe Guichet | ... |
Daniel's brother
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Nadia Ikisse | ... |
Mrs. Mimouni
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Marie-Madeleine Langlois | ... |
Neighbour's wife
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Nelly Larachiche | ... |
Mrs. Legrand
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France Leroy | ... |
Café owner
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Claude Liénard | ... |
Mrs. Henry's doctor
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Marcelle Loutre | ... |
Guegdan's mother
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Jacky Meunier | ... |
Valeria's father
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Cécile Montagnon | ... |
Mrs. Lamart
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Michèle Niewrzeda | ... |
Mrs. Bornat
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Vincenza Orologio | ... |
Valeria's mother
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Marie-Françoise Prette | ... |
Mrs. Marchal
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Linda Prudhomme | ... |
Mrs. Dupuis
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Monique Quivy | ... |
Dining hall lady
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Claude Ronnaux | ... |
Colleague
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Françoise Sage | ... |
Mrs. Mériaux
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Pascale Verdière | ... |
Nanny
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Directed by
| Bertrand Tavernier | ||
Written by
| Dominique Sampiero | ... | (writer) |
| Bertrand Tavernier | ... | (writer) |
| Tiffany Tavernier | ... | (writer) |
Produced by
| Frédéric Bourboulon | ... | producer |
| Alain Sarde | ... | producer |
Music by
| Louis Sclavis | ||
Cinematography by
| Alain Choquart | ||
Editing by
| Sophie Brunet | ||
Editorial Department
| Florence Dard | ... | post-production coordinator |
| Olivier Fontenay | ... | color timer |
| Isabelle Julien | ... | color timer |
| Guillaume Lebel | ... | trainee assistant editor |
| Sophie Mandonnet | ... | assistant editor |
Art Direction by
| Thierry François | ||
Costume Design by
| Marpessa Djian | ||
Makeup Department
| Beya Gasmi | ... | key hair stylist |
| Agnès Tassel | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Jean-Louis Bergamini | ... | assistant unit manager |
| Benoît Charrié | ... | unit manager |
| Sébastien Coulet | ... | assistant unit manager |
| François Hamel | ... | production manager |
| Olivier Lagny | ... | assistant unit manager |
| Henry Le Turc | ... | assistant unit manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Pierre Abela | ... | first assistant director |
| Sylvie Confolent | ... | assistant director |
| Fanny Etienne | ... | assistant director |
| Tiffany Tavernier | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Denis Bourgier | ... | property buyer |
| François Decaux | ... | first assistant decorator |
| Paul Decaux | ... | property master |
| Sylvie Grand d'Esnon | ... | head painter |
| Gabriel Passajou | ... | construction manager |
Sound Department
| Jean-Michel Chauvet | ... | sound assistant |
| Michel Desrois | ... | sound |
| Judith Guittier | ... | assistant foley artist |
| Gérard Lamps | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Didier Lizé | ... | sound engineer |
| Laurent Lévy | ... | foley artist |
| Elisabeth Paquotte | ... | sound editor |
| Alain Primot | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Christian Riffard | ... | post-production audio |
| Eric Tisserand | ... | sound mixer |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Éric Alirol | ... | electrician |
| Christophe Asselin | ... | second assistant camera |
| Albert Bonomi | ... | key grip |
| Marc Casi | ... | grip |
| Philippe Deneau | ... | gaffer |
| Arnaud Desbuquois | ... | grip |
| Christian Inizan | ... | gaffer |
| Alain Martigny | ... | electrician |
| Philippe Renaud | ... | first assistant camera (as Philippe Renaut) |
| Xavier Tauveron | ... | assistant camera: second unit |
| Jürgen Vollmer | ... | still photographer |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Valérie Le Hello | ... | costumer |
Music Department
| Jean-François Canape | ... | musician: Trumpet and bugle |
| Bruno Chevillon | ... | musician: contrabasse |
| Didier Lizé | ... | music engineer |
| Christophe Marguet | ... | musician: drums |
| Jean Pepeck | ... | orchestra leader |
| François Raulin | ... | music arranger / musician: piano |
| Yves Robert | ... | musician: trombone |
| Louis Sclavis | ... | music arranger / musician: Clarinets and Saxophones |
Script and Continuity Department
| Zoé Zurstrassen | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Sylvie Chevereau-Marchais | ... | production administrator |
| Lucilio Da Costa Pais | ... | groupman |
| Phil Hall | ... | film publicist |
| Agnès Le Pont | ... | general administrator |
| Florence Loubeau | ... | production secretary |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Bac Films (1999) (France) (theatrical)
- Arsenal (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
- BIM Distribuzione (1999) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Dendy Films (1999) (Australia) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Filmcoopi (1999) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- Cinema Mondo (2000) (Finland) (theatrical)
- IFA (2000) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- United King Films (2000) (Israel) (theatrical)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2004) (Finland) (tv)
- Facets Multimedia Distribution (2005) (United States) (subtitled)
- Pan Vision Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD) (subtitled)
- The Criterion Channel (2024) (United States) (video) (VOD) (subtitled)
- Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (Czechia)
- Cult Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- L'Harmonie Municipale d'Anzin (orchestra)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Daniel is schoolmaster of a kindergarten in a small French town. The local economy, which depended entirely on coal production, has been mired in a depression ever since the mines were closed. When their parents fall into utter discouragement or even poverty because of prolonged unemployment, the children suffer the consequences. Daniel is confronted daily with difficult situations and he feels responsible to deal with them although they are outside the scope of his responsibilities. This is a frustrating task: politicians are concerned with tightening their budgets, bureaucrats in the intricate web of French social and educational services with their prerogatives, utility companies with getting their bills paid; teachers, social workers, and policemen are overwhelmed. Daniel's relations with his parents, but also with Valeria, his fiancée, and her son are not entirely smooth either. He nevertheless soldiers on with the staff of the kindergarten, all doing their best to educate the children of a severely disrupted society.
Written by Eduardo Casais |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Co-screenwriter Dominique Sampiero was Bertrand Tavernier's son-in-law. He was also a headmaster and drew on over 20 years experience for the screenplay. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in In the Shadow of Hollywood (2000). See more » |