Believing in the Power of Music, Their Hearts Unite—

Léa Pool, a female director known for her mastery of delicate and warm human dramas, has been a pillar of Canadian cinema. Many may have encountered her works, which have garnered numerous prestigious awards both in Canada and abroad. "Wings to Fly," which explored the love and passion of adolescent girls, and "The Blue Butterfly of Heaven," a cinematic adaptation of a miraculous true story about a boy and a mystical butterfly, were both smash hits in Japan.




In 2015, 35 years after her feature film directorial debut, she completed her latest work, a culmination of her career as a filmmaker. Praised for its universal theme of forging one's own path, relevant even today, the film was met with thunderous applause at film festivals across Asia, America, and Europe. Set in Quebec, Canada, during the 1960s when modernization was being vigorously pursued nationwide, the story follows a female teacher and her students as they strive to save a music school facing closure.

In an era when women's rights, freedom, and social advancement were not yet widely recognized, the portrayal of women confronting outdated ideas and powerful authorities, believing in the power of music, resonated deeply. The film won six awards at the Quebec Film Awards, including Best Picture.

This musical entertainment, passionately supported across borders, is finally arriving in Japan.—.



Against the backdrop of Canada's beautiful and abundant nature, which is enveloped in a veil of white snow in winter and transforms into vibrant green with the arrival of spring, the film is filled with classical masterpieces by great composers such as Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven, and Liszt. The pure piano melodies played by the girls, their angelic singing voices, exhilarating dances, and charming uniforms, along with the school buildings and classrooms that seem to have sprung from a picture book, create a beautiful ensemble.

These are women who, while sometimes shedding tears over unchangeable fates, strove to live strongly, resiliently, cheerfully, and above all, true to themselves. Their journey of opening the doors to the future through the power of music offers a story of hope that brings smiles and energy.

Alice, the niece of the headmistress and a gifted pianist, is played by Lysandre Ménard, currently studying at the Montreal Conservatory of Music. Ménard began playing piano at age five, won numerous competitions, and was selected as one of Canada's top 30 emerging musicians in 2012. Her piano playing reaches the depths of the soul, captivating audiences with performances that masterfully express the full range of human emotions. She is sure to mesmerize viewers.

Augustine, the headmistress, is portrayed by Céline Bonnier, known for "The Cry of Love - 100 Days of Fate." Bonnier is a versatile actress active in TV series, films, and theater in Canada, and has been nominated three times for the Genie Awards, often called the Canadian Academy Awards.

Wanting to Live True to Oneself Above All Else

A small boarding school stands isolated in the vast landscape of Quebec. It is a prestigious girls' school focused on music education, but facing closure due to financial difficulties in its operation by a convent. Headmistress Augustine plans a music event to rally public support through the power of music. Meanwhile, Alice, the headmistress's niece, transfers to the school. Recognizing Alice's innate talent as a pianist, the headmistress sees her as key to the school's survival, but the solitary and withdrawn Alice is a problem student who refuses to listen to anyone. Overcoming various challenges, they approach the day of the event...—.

"The Sound of Mazurka"
Opening Saturday, January 14th at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho, YEBISU GARDEN CINEMA, and other theaters nationwide.
Director: Léa Pool ("The Blue Butterfly of Heaven," "Wings to Fly")
Starring: Céline Bonnier, Lysandre Ménard, Diane Lavallée, Valérie Blais, Pierrette Robitaille, Marie-Thérèse Fortin, Elizabeth Ganiou
Canada / 2015 / French / Color / 103 min / Japanese Subtitles by Yukiko Furuta / PG-12
http://tenshi-chopin.jp/