Review of La Vie en Rose (2007) by Cinema F — 29 Dec 2009

Listening to Edith Piaf is like listening to pure undiluted heartbreak.

Piaf, which meant "little sparrow" wasn't even five feet tall, but she often seemed larger than life when singing. One night the most famous singer in France, Maurice Chevalier, listened to Edith sing and pronounced (in French, of course), "That kid's got it!".

This biopic creates a fascinating picture of an artist whose songs only begin to reflect the singer's painful life. She is most remembered today for singing two of the most haunting songs ever written: La vie en rose (which she also wrote) and Non, je ne regrettes rien. Yet, her music Milord is one of my favourites! Yes, her life was her music .

Some viewers may be confused by the film which often leaps from one decade to another and back again with no warning to the viewer. This can be disconcerting and confusing to those not familiar with Piaf's life. Nevertheless, this can be viewed as a reflection of Edith's own disjointed and often chaotic life. It can also be seen as a dying person thinking back on her life in bits and pieces.

Yet, the strength of the movie is in the acting. The real Edith comes alive through the superb acting of Marion Cotillard, who brings intensity to a complex role that few others could have achieved. It's her amazing performance that makes this flick worth seeing. She gives such an emotionally riveting performance and her perfect lip-synching of je ne regrette rien is unbelievable. Besides the cast, the movie's vivid cinematography, crisp and resonant sound recordings, and dramatic storytelling make this a must-see film for fans and novices alike.