Spring Break
Portrait of a troubled chanteuse
Stacy Mossberger
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Life & Style
Recent films, such as "Prom Date" and "88 Minutes," are not headed for the "cinematic classics" category. But, it is now a great time to catch up on the movies you didn't get a chance to see when they were in theatres. Many Oscar-winning movies such as "No Country for Old Men" and "Juno" are available for rental. Besides, you'll probably need something to help you procrastinate during finals week.?
One of the prominent films at this year's Oscars that went relatively unrecognized in the U.S. was the foreign film "La Vie en Rose." The movie follows the troubled childhood and death of French icon Edith Piaf, a singer in the 1900s.
Before the age of 9, Piaf had lived in three different "homes": on the streets with her drunk mother, in the circus with her father and in her grandmother's brothel. She realizes she has a talent for singing and a thirst for the spotlight, and uses both of those skills to keep food on the table.
While singing on a street corner one day, she is discovered by a nightclub owner. After performing on cabaret stages, she quickly rises to stardom and performs in famous music halls, records countless albums and tours the world.
"La Vie en Rose" also follows the scandals, affairs and drama that muddied her personal life. ??
The manner in which the movie is filmed focuses on Piaf's distinct personality: slightly arrogant, headstrong and demanding. Although some of the most important days of Piaf's life are highlighted, there are obviously a lot major events left out and a lot of gaps between the years. Auteur Olivier Dahan flips back and forth between time periods, starting in the middle of Piaf's life, going back to the beginning, switching to the last years of her life, etc. Dahan sporadically lists the dates at the bottom of the screen to help the transitions, but time still seems to be a bit unclear. As confusing as the jumbled flipping between time periods is, it seems fitting for a biography of Piaf's life. This informal chronological order shows the consistency of her personality and matches the chaos that often defines her life.??
The script of the movie showcases the amazing voice of Edith Piaf by including many of her famous songs. There is rarely a five-minute period in the movie that does not include Piaf singing, but the music is not overdone or dull. All of the songs are sung in French, but unfortunately the lyrics do not come with subtitles.
Marion Cotillard definitely earned her Oscar with this role. Even though most of us will have to read our way through it, it's definitely a must-see movie.
One of the prominent films at this year's Oscars that went relatively unrecognized in the U.S. was the foreign film "La Vie en Rose." The movie follows the troubled childhood and death of French icon Edith Piaf, a singer in the 1900s.
Before the age of 9, Piaf had lived in three different "homes": on the streets with her drunk mother, in the circus with her father and in her grandmother's brothel. She realizes she has a talent for singing and a thirst for the spotlight, and uses both of those skills to keep food on the table.
While singing on a street corner one day, she is discovered by a nightclub owner. After performing on cabaret stages, she quickly rises to stardom and performs in famous music halls, records countless albums and tours the world.
"La Vie en Rose" also follows the scandals, affairs and drama that muddied her personal life. ??
The manner in which the movie is filmed focuses on Piaf's distinct personality: slightly arrogant, headstrong and demanding. Although some of the most important days of Piaf's life are highlighted, there are obviously a lot major events left out and a lot of gaps between the years. Auteur Olivier Dahan flips back and forth between time periods, starting in the middle of Piaf's life, going back to the beginning, switching to the last years of her life, etc. Dahan sporadically lists the dates at the bottom of the screen to help the transitions, but time still seems to be a bit unclear. As confusing as the jumbled flipping between time periods is, it seems fitting for a biography of Piaf's life. This informal chronological order shows the consistency of her personality and matches the chaos that often defines her life.??
The script of the movie showcases the amazing voice of Edith Piaf by including many of her famous songs. There is rarely a five-minute period in the movie that does not include Piaf singing, but the music is not overdone or dull. All of the songs are sung in French, but unfortunately the lyrics do not come with subtitles.
Marion Cotillard definitely earned her Oscar with this role. Even though most of us will have to read our way through it, it's definitely a must-see movie.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
kitvancleave
posted 4/29/08 @ 7:24 AM CST
You're doing a real service by recommending this film. It's one of the great acting performances of the decade, and critics say for all time. And the movie doesn't jump around THAT much, does it?
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