Review of La Vie en Rose (2007) by Paul W — 19 Feb 2011

Marion Cotillard is simply stunning, giving her portrayal of the "little Sparrow" a superb physicality. The narrative pays no attention to chronology, instead jumping between the key crescendos and diminuendos of Piafs troubled, touched and very tough life.

We see her being dragged up in the gutters of Paris, with some wonderfully visceral scenes of childhood episodes in a Brothel and a circus. Eventually we see the breakthrough performances and then follow her as she drinks and mainlines her way around the world, constantly on the verge of self-destruction if her sickly frame doesn't give in first.

I haven't seen it but I believe Justin Biebers recently released biog has roughly the same plot arc.