La Vie en Rose-2007

Director Olivier Dahan

Starring Marion Cotillard

Scott’s Review #790

Reviewed July 18, 2018

Grade: A

As a true fan of French actress Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose (2007) is the tremendously talented lady’s finest role to date- and I would venture to say one of the best in film history.

She immerses herself in the pivotal role of Édith Piaf and delivers a breathtaking performance.

Besides the vehicle to showcase her acting chops, the film as a whole is lovely, presenting the poignant life story of the troubled star and adding enough French zest to make it more than just a biography.

The way the plot is constructed is quite interesting, as Édith Piaf’s story is told in a non-linear fashion.

The highly complex singer’s biography is recounted, first telling elements of her childhood and concluding with events occurring shortly before her death.

Her childhood was difficult, so she was raised by her grandmother in a bordello and discovered on the streets, beginning her meteoric rise to acclaim.

The events of the film are known to be fairly accurate, making the songstress’s life story awe-inspiring.

The visual aspects and cinematography elements of La Vie en Rose are lovely. With soft, muted tones, the film is rich with culture and has a wonderful French way about it.

Since the story commences in 1918, the period is fraught with a rich history, including World War II and a lavish trip to New York City, where Édith performs.

To say nothing of the lavish Parisian settings, the “look” of the film is enough reason to watch in wonderment.

Enough praise cannot be heaped upon Cotillard as Piaf, and as enjoyable and profound as the film itself is, the casting of the French actress is both perfect and unimaginable with anyone else in the role.

As treasured a performance as Cotillard gives, the filmmakers wisely choose to leave Piaf’s actual voice in the musical numbers. Anyone else mimicking her would be unimaginable and frankly insulting.

And an imitator would not have served the film well.

Regardless of the voice-overs, Cotillard delivers such a flawless and brave performance that it makes the film what it is.

Piaf was known as a very difficult woman to deal with both personally and professionally, though there were many sympathetic qualities to her, given her tough life.

Cotillard’s facial expressions and mannerisms perfectly mimic the star’s qualities so much so that the actress seemingly becomes the singer. The actress deservedly won the Best Actress Academy Award for her layered performance.

The final scene of the film is both profound and ghastly. A very ill Édith, looking haggard, clown-like with heavy makeup, decides to take the stage for the final time, aware that she is dying.

Refusing to cancel her show, she performs her well-known number, “Non, Je ne regrette rien”. She then exits the stage in a frail manner and dies shortly thereafter. She was the consummate professional and star until the moment of her death.

This particular scene is a wonderful culmination of the film.

La Vie en Rose (2007), solely judged as a biopic, is a very good piece of filmmaking that tells a graceful, sometimes moving story of incredible talent.

With a performance such as Cotillard’s, the film goes to another level, and the performance becomes the main event.

The emotions and characteristics the actress embodies are astounding and rank among the finest depictions in cinematic history.

Oscar Nominations: 2 wins-Best Actress-Marion Cotillard (won), Best Makeup (won), Best Costume Design