Review of La Vie en Rose (2007) by Pedro T — 06 Feb 2013

A truly stunning performance from Marion Cotillard who was nothing short of amazing in her portrayal of Piaf. This is a great film, but it didn't blow me away - mostly because of the length. Usually I don't mind longer films but on this occasion it dragged for me and I lost interest at certain points. Perhaps I wasn't in the best frame of mind to put this on so perhaps this review doesn't give the film the credit it's due.

On the whole I was at first thrown off by the lack of chronological order but soon came to appreciate its use as a device, as Edith is dying she comments that she can't bring the memories back that she wants to see, so the fragments we are given prove to be insightful.

As I said her performance is remarkable, I can't recall an actress embodying a character to that degree before she becomes Piaf and the scenes of her hunched over shuffling onto the stage, or the way she has captured her voice so perfectly show why Cotillard won the bafta.

A very interesting biopic that you should see if you have any level of interest in Piaf and her music. At times heartbreaking, on the whole very dark and with a cliche yet completely appropriate ending it was an enjoyable movie just not one I can see myself watching again.