Sometimes, even a tune you've heard many times before can reveal something new.

The French film “The Chorus” (“Les Choristes”) echoes a host of movies — “Blackboard Jungle” and “To Sir, With Love” as a new teacher instills discipline in unruly students; “Dead Poets Society” and “Mr. Holland's Opus” as school kids are inspired by the power of art — but makes up for its played-out plot with Gallic subtlety and ample charm.

Shortly after World War II, sad sack Clément Mathieu (played superbly by Gérard Jugnot) trudges to his new job as an instructor at a provincial French boarding school for troubled boys. Greeted by a dictatorial headmaster and his feral charges, it seems things can't get any worse for a middle-aged bachelor who loves to compose music but long ago gave up his dream of earning a living at it.

Of course, he eventually tames and wins over the students while sharing a love of music, clashes regularly with his boss and leaves the place better than he found it, but there are some refreshing detours from that well-worn path. Mathieu endures an unrequited love affair and discovers and nurtures a talent who will one day fulfill all the lonely teacher's dreams. As the young prodigy, Jean-Baptiste Maunier shows only a limited acting range but sings with the voice of an angel.

As this is a French production, we're spared the Hollywood happy ending — think of the grandiose recital in “Mr. Holland's Opus” — and worse, the treacly sentimentality of other similar films.

Director and co-writer Christophe Barratier takes his inspiration from “La Cage aux rossignols” (a 1945 French film) and makes the most of small moments rather than overreaching on broad, sweeping scenes. When Mathieu leaves the school at the end of the film, the students’ simple farewell gesture is beautifully shot and immensely touching, without ever showing more than the children's hands.

“The Chorus” may be the same old song, but with Barratier's subtle yet assured conducting, it still sounds sweet.