Monsieur le Maire (also released simply as Monsieur, le Maire) is a 2023 French comedy-drama directed by Karine Blanc and Michel Tavares, starring Clovis Cornillac. The film opened in French theaters on November 1, 2023.
Cornillac plays Paul Barral, the mayor of a small mountain village at the foot of Mont-Blanc who is fighting to keep local businesses alive and save the village school from closure. Seeking to attract new families to the shrinking community, Paul opens the village to single mothers in difficult situations — among them Joe-Lynn, an outspoken singer arriving with her two children — and their arrival turns the once-quiet village upside down. According to IMDb: “Paul Barral, mayor of a small mountain town at the foot of Mont-Blanc, is fighting to maintain business and protect the school from an announced closure. Not without determination, the Mayor may have found the solution.”
The story is inspired by the real efforts of Arnaud Diaz, mayor of L’Hospitalet-près-l’Andorre in the Ariège region, who founded a welcome center for single-parent families — the “Maison des Cimes” — specifically to bring in new residents and keep the local school open.
Quick Facts
| Title | Monsieur le Maire (Monsieur, le Maire) |
| Directors | Karine Blanc & Michel Tavares |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama |
| Starring | Clovis Cornillac |
| Composers | Jérôme Rebotier & Geoffroy Berlioz |
| Release Date | November 1, 2023 (France) |
| Country | France |
| Inspired By | The true story of Mayor Arnaud Diaz of L’Hospitalet-près-l’Andorre |
Composer of the Monsieur le Maire Soundtrack
- Jérôme Rebotier
- Geoffroy Berlioz
Jérôme Rebotier is a French composer and multi-instrumentalist whose earlier credits include Le Prénom (2012), Papa ou Maman (2015 and its 2018 series), and À propos de Joan (2022). For Monsieur le Maire, his ethereal guitar, violin, and piano writing evokes nostalgia, while regular collaborator Geoffroy Berlioz — a film-music composer and producer who has worked with Rebotier for several years — adds a more pop-oriented, forward-looking touch. Together they also wrote two original songs for the film: “Wake Up,” performed by Emilie Gassin, and “Keep Going,” performed by Octave Lissner.
Original Soundtrack List of Monsieur le Maire
- Monsieur Le Maire
- Wake Up (Jérôme Rebotier & Geoffroy Berlioz feat. Emilie Gassin) (2:49)
- Joséphine (0:43)
- La Scierie (0:44)
- Keep Going (Jérôme Rebotier & Geoffroy Berlioz feat. Octave Lissner) (3:22)
- A propos du fils (1:13)
- La naissance (2:41)
- La chambre du fils (1:37)
- Le foyer (2:39)
- Réconciliation (1:59)
- Solidaires (4:19)
- Le maire à Paris (2:04)
- Monsieur le maire : Final (3:20)
The score is available to stream on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
Official Trailer
Official Trailer:
Monsieur le Maire was released in French theaters on November 1, 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Monsieur le Maire?
Monsieur le Maire was directed by Karine Blanc and Michel Tavares.
What is Monsieur le Maire about?
The film follows Paul Barral (Clovis Cornillac), mayor of a small mountain village at the foot of Mont-Blanc, who fights to save local businesses and the village school from closure by welcoming single mothers in difficult situations to the community, including the outspoken singer Joe-Lynn and her two children.
Who composed the Monsieur le Maire score?
The score was composed by Jérôme Rebotier and Geoffroy Berlioz, who also co-wrote the film’s two original songs, “Wake Up” (performed by Emilie Gassin) and “Keep Going” (performed by Octave Lissner).
Is Monsieur le Maire based on a true story?
Yes. The film is inspired by the real story of Arnaud Diaz, mayor of L’Hospitalet-près-l’Andorre in the Ariège region of France, who created a welcome center for single-parent families to attract new residents and keep the town’s school open.
When was Monsieur le Maire released?
Monsieur le Maire opened in French theaters on November 1, 2023.
Related reading: Movie Soundtrack hub and Streaming hub.