"La Vie En Rose."

Last night I had three "firsts." It was my first time seeing a movie at the legendary Paris Theater. It was my first time being exposed to Edith Piaf (other than the poster in my house.) And it was the first time I saw a movie with Barbara Cook.

Okay, okay, I didn't exactly sit next to the legendary singer but merely caught her eye as she walked down the aisle to take her seat shortly before show time. It shouldn't surprise me that such legends go to such a classy theater but I think I was probably the only person under the age of forty that recognized her. Then again, David and I were probably the only people under forty seeing the remarkable new film "La Vie En Rose."

Before I was born, my father was in a Broadway show titled "Piaf" that ran on Broadway in 1981. Since I can remember, the poster for that play has hung in various spots throughout our different houses and it currently resides on the wall of our staircase. Other than the doe-eyed gaze and blocky red letters that adorn the poster, I haven't ever heard my father talk much about the play itself or the French singer who dons the name Edith Piaf. Watching this movie last night I was suddenly eager to talk to my dad about her life, plagued with erratic behavior, morphine addiction, heavy drinking and above all incredible talent. What is so astounding about the film is how all encompassing it is. Nothing seems to skim the surface of her heartbreaking life; instead it delves deep into her past (the movie begins in 1918 when she is a young child) and follows her to her last breath on her deathbed at the untimely age of 46.

Many people have explained Edith Piaf to me as "the French Judy Garland" and after watching last night I can see the obvious similarities. I can't imagine a movie this detailed being made about Garland, probably because of the American audience's familiarity with her life. Anyone performing the role of Garland has too obvious an image to match. While many people have immense knowledge of Piaf, Americans are less likely to know all the details, or in my case none of the details. Maybe if I knew or had seen the actual singer perform in her lifetime I wouldn't have been so astounded by Marion Cotillard's performance. It is without a doubt one of the best performances I have ever seen on screen.

Cotillard plays Piaf from the 20's-60's and completely reinvents herself with every new decade. We watch Edith grow from a street singer to a cabaret singer and finally to a superstar artiste but not without incredible hardships and heartbreak. There are the physical transformations that Cotillard pulls off with incredible results but more importantly the emotional transformations. Piaf, as a singer, was completely transformed by the stage and she sacrificed everything to feed that hunger. Towards the end of the film, a nearly crippled Piaf is shut off from the world and looks as if she will never perform again. She hears a song that has the lyrics "No, no regrets" and exclaims that it is her life the composer has written. The music will sweep you away (all is the original Piaf recordings) but even more so Cotillard will break your heart. Her performance redefines the term "tour de force."

There is not enough praise for the brilliant performance of the title character but other aspects of the movie seemed a bit strange to me. Towards the beginning it jumps around time periods for no particular reason and some of the moments that would have more of an emotional impact are hindered by this strange choice. It seems fitting that a dramatic life would appear too melodramatic on screen and there are moments where that is the case. However, these are minor complaints for a movie that is not to be missed. Her performance has to be seen to be believed.

It has been a week of foreign movies for me with "La Vie En Rose” preceded by "The Lives of Others," which I am rather late coming to. "La Vie" made me miss the romantic streets of Paris but "The Lives of Others" didn't exactly make me want to run to Germany. Now I'm off to see my third "foreign" movie of the week, "Ratatouille," although I doubt that Pixar is going to do subtitles.

Comments

[tonya]

Thanks for the review; I've been wanting to see this. Your parents have done a lot of cool stuff!

[Larry]

FWIW, I sat behind Barbara Cook at a Met Opera performance of Parsifal. This was the night my friend and I splurged. I'm sure for Barbara it was pocket change.

[Tania]

I love love LOVE Edith Piaf, she is so incredible. You should really get your hands on some of her recordings. I've been very curious to see the movie but I read a pretty negative review of it from the NYTimes, which discouraged me somewhat, though they said the lead performance was wonderful. They also said that the movie mysteriously left out the fact that she was an active member of the French Resistance, which I thought was odd decision. I still am curious to see it though cause I love Piaf so much, maybe I'll wait for Netflix.

Have fun at Ratatouille. I am DYING to see that movie, DYING. All most as much as the upcoming Harry Potter.

[M]

If you are a Piaf fan then I urge you to go see it in the theater. The experience of hearing the music in a giant theater is not to be missed. The movie DEFINITELY lacks a bit in the structuring and is a tad melodramatic but her performance more than makes up for it in my opinion.

[Jennifer]

i've always wanted to see barbara cook perform live on stage! she's such a legend.

[Susan Lenz]

Hi!
My husband and I just returned from seeing this incredible movie...on your recommendation. The local, independent movie house had it scheduled for months; we marked our calendar back in June when you wrote about it. There were no celebrities in the house. It didn't matter. Obviously, we are lucky to get such films just four months after New York City reviews. It was everything you promised. We are quite grateful. Thank you.
Susan

[M]

SUSAN! What a great surprise finding this comment on an older post. Even though the movie has it's faults, I still think it's one of my recent favorites. Her performance alone is worth everyone checking out. David and I were just talking about it yesterday.

Happy to hear that the local cinema got it. I know that my family is going soon because our art house in Montana just got it while I was home. Glad you likes the recommendation. And if I can give ONE more it's to NEVER EVER see "Across The Universe." ;-) Review coming tomorrow!