On New Year's Eve in 1935 in a working-class neighborhood in France, Galapiat (Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu), a criminal wheeler-dealer, closes down the Chansonia music hall. Pigoil (Gerard Jugnot), a stage-hand who has worked there for 30 years, is stunned. His wife has left him for another man and now it's hard to make ends meet to support his 12-year-old son Jojo (Maxence Perrin), a talented accordion player. After losing custody of the boy, he sinks into a depression.
Then Pigoil comes up with a brave and bold idea: occupying and rebuilding the Chansonia music hall. He enlists the support of two friends: Milou (Clovis Cornillac), an electrician and union organizer, and Jacky (Kad Merad), a former sandwich man at the music hall who dreams of becoming a successful impressionist. The plan is to create a "hit" musical and buy the Chansonia.
Writer and director Christophe Barratier (Les Choristes) has created an old-fashioned tale about show business, friendship, and love. There are a few song-and-dance numbers and a dash of political intrigue as a local fascist-leaning militia asserts its power in the community.
Two characters are key to fulfilling the hopes of the three dreamers. First, there is Douce, a beautiful and talented singer who arrives in town and turns out to be a surprise hit with the public; Nora Arnezeder makes her into an alluring actress who steals the movie with her radiant presence. Second, there is Monsieur TSF (Pierre Richard), a heart-broken old man who spends all his time listening to the radio. He hasn't left his apartment for 20 years. When he finally does, it is to share his musical creativity with the three dreamers at the Chansonia. Paris 36 is a pleasant French film that enchants in its own quaint ways.
