“The most astonishing immersion of one performer in the body and soul of another I’ve ever encountered on film.”
So reads the blurb from the New York Times at the top of the movie poster for La Vie En Rose. I couldn’t agree more.
We went to see this biographical film of French singer Edith Piaf yesterday with Karen. It was long and subtitled, but it was a masterpiece. I knew nothing of this singer before, yet now I feel like I know her intimately. The actress, Marion Cotillard, is simply one of the best that I’ve ever seen; most American actresses would pale in comparison. The rollercoaster ride through the ups-and-downs of her life left the audience so drained that the majority stayed put after the credits started rolling, apparently still trying to absorb what they had just seen.
If you get a chance to see this film on the big screen, do so. It will be time and money well spent.
3 Comments
C’est magnifique!
There is simply no way to describe how utterly remarkable this film is. Marion Cotillard puts actresses like Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, and Dame Judy Dench–the creme de la creme–to shame. How Cotillard pulled this off (and what she pulled from inside herself), I’ll never know. All I now is that even today, I’m standing in the audience of my mind giving her a standing ovation.
I’ve always been curious about this film but never knew of anyone who had actually seen it. Thanks, Brian, I’m going to look for it on your recommendation.
Wendy,
My partner says it’s probably the best film he’s ever seen. I know you’ll enjoy it!