La Vie en Rose is a biographical film that highlights the life of Edith Piaf, one of France’s most popular singers of the 20th century. The movie made its way to theaters in 2007 and stars Marion Cotillard as the central character.
Edith Piaf was born a sickly child who ends up being dumped on her paternal grandmother, the madam of a brothel in Normandy. She’s cared for by prostitutes until her father returns and forces her into a life in the circus and then later as a street busker. As a young woman, Edith continues to sing in the street to earn small tips to get by in life. Eventually, her singing is heard by nightclub owner Louis Leplee (Gerard Depardieu) who hires her. Edith experiences many ups and downs following her initial success at the club, and her experiences become mired by her abuses of drugs and alcohol. With her diminutive body, loud brassy personality, insecurities, and superlative singing voice, one can’t help but notice the comparisons to Judy Garland.
In its entirety, the movie is a bit disjointed, and its non-linear storytelling often makes it difficult to put Piaf’s highs and lows in proper context. Additionally, the movie failed to apply any type of balance between the ups and downs of her existence. Her lengthy fame and good times are pretty much ignored. There is also a minor plot thread, Piaf’s belief that Saint Therese speaks to her, that feels overly contrived. These things aside, the film does a formidable job of trying to encapsulate one’s lifetime into a mere 140 minutes. The cinematography and costumes are outstanding, and the supporting cast gives solid performances. But make no mistake, the true grandeur of La Vie en Rose comes from Cotillard’s intense and dazzling performance. She is astonishing in every way. Her portrayal earned her critical acclaim including acting wins for a BAFTA award, the Golden Globe Award, and a Best Actress Oscar. It was the accolades of her performance that put this film on my 2023 must-see list. And in every way, it was indeed a must-see performance.
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