Compelling but disjointed
Added 11/5/2009
La Vie en Rose was a thoroughly absorbing film, if a bit disjointed. Marion Cotillard played the role of Edith Piaf, French singing icon, to the hilt. The filming was atmospheric, moody, edgy, as was the directing. The only problem was that there was so much jumping around from one point to another in Piaf's tragically short life, that at times I couldn't follow the story line.
The best parts of the film, for me, depicted Piaf's early life as a singer. Her evolution from street singer to the "voice of Paris" was fascinating. And with Cotillard's wonderful evocative performance, you could understand the reasons for Piaf's fame, even if you had no prior knowledge of her career. The sheer volume of emotion that Cotillard packed into Piaf's most famous songs was impressive.
Unfortunately, the overall sense of the story dropped away as the director popped forward into Piaf's later life--sometimes for only a minute or two. The discontinuity was only accentuated by the fact that the film completely ignored the war years. This was not only a crucial time for France, but for Piaf as a performer. The fact that she sang for German officers opened her up to charges of Nazi collaboration, even though she supported the Resistance and valiantly saved Jews from certain death at great personal risk. The omission of this era in favor of far too many scenes showing Piaf as a drug-ridden, abusive egomaniac robbed much of the character from the film's subject, and did not do justice to the lady.
Nevertheless, the film was enjoyable in an intense, French kind of way. With different editing (especially of the deathbed "flashbacks" referring to events that the film did not show), it would have been a much more coherent and moving portrait of one of the world's most significant and enduring voices.
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La Vie en Rose
Added 10/24/2009
Unfortunately, life was very seldom "en rose" for Edith Piaf, and this movie portrays it very realistically, without trying to soften or embellish the truth.
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"No Regrets"
Added 9/28/2009
This film has reunited me with Edith Piaf. As a very young person, over 50 years ago, I saw her perform live in New York. I remember the excitement surrounding her appearance. I had never heard her perform before that pivitol day and since that day, I've never heard enough of "The Little Sparrow."
At that time, I knew nothing about her backround. As I grew older, I discovered the facts surrounding her tragic life. Did her music mirror her personal life or was it the other way around?
This film mingles facts with performance and does it seamlessly and what appears to be effortlessly. Even with the switching between time periods in her life, the film runs smoothly.
I frequently wait for a new film to burn off some of the initial higher price before ordering it, but in this case, I paid the higher introductory prices and have never had any regrets. Absolutely "No Regrets" at all...
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A delightful Surprise
Added 9/25/2009
I did not come to this movie via the direct root. I didn't see it in a video store and notice it on Netflix. I was doing some research on "Saving Private Ryan", I was curious about the French singer that the American troops were listening to prior to the German attack. I heard the name, Edith Piaf . I asked my aunt if she knew who she was and she told me that she knew about Edith Piaf because she was very famous when my Aunt was younger. I never heard of this woman before, yet I was very moved by the voice. After doing some research On Edith Piaf I found there was a movie about her called "La Vie en Rose". I found it at the Library and took it home and plugged it into my DVD player in my computer and sat back and watched.
What unfolded in front of my eyes was by far one of the most emotional heart wrecking movies with such beautiful songs sung by Edith. I was forced to tears and told everyone I knew, about this movie. The directing and acting was superb. I have seen Marion Cotillard in a French movie before and I was very impressed with her performance. It was no surprise that she walked up on the Academy stage to receive her well deserved Oscar. There are people who come forth in our lives with such extraordinary talent and once or twice in our lifetime, Edith was one of these. That voice cannot be reproduced it has such a special tone.
The storyline was spellbinding, they told the story of this little lady's life, it was so tragic and how someone could survive such pains and loses and come to the forefront to be one of our greatest singers of an age is beyond my understanding. The movie is summed up at the end with a most amazing song and just destroys me emotionally. "Non! Rien de rien. I play that song over and over and it has such meaning for me. This is the English translation for the song:
No! Absolutely nothing...
No! I regret nothing
Neither the good that I've done nor the bad
All this is much the same to me!
No! Absolutely nothing...
No! I regret nothing...
It is paid, swept away, forgotten
I don't care about the past!
With my souvenirs
I lit a fire
My sorrows, my pleasures
I need them no more!
Swept away the love affairs
With their tremors
Swept away forever
I leave with nothing ...
No! Absolutely nothing...
No! I regret nothing
Neither the good that I've done nor the bad
All this is much the same to me!
No! Absolutely nothing...
No! I regret nothing...
Because my life, because my joys
Today that begins with you!
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Magnificent Destruction
Added 9/2/2009
This unforgettable movie may delight you and frustrate you in equal measure. The story is told in a chaotic jumble of scenes that do not really fit together very well. Unless you are completely familiar with the biographical details of Edith Piaf's life, you will often not understand what is happening on screen. However, chances are you will be fascinated by what you see, and that is the most important thing.
Marion Cotillard won many awards for her potrayal of Edith Piaf and she deserved them all. The portrait that she presents of the "French Judy Garland" will remain with you forever.
If you are a fan of biopics then this should be a must-see. Very possibly, though, once you have viewed "La Vie En Rose" you may want to go out and read a book that will fill in the historical gaps that are to be found in the film. Then you will truly come to know the great Edith Piaf.
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BUYER BEWARE
Added 3/15/2008
This web page states the DVD has English subtitles. I received my copy and it does not have subtitles, English or any other. The DVD is very good and will be a good purchase if you speak French. I tried it on three different DVD players and they all agree, no subtitles.
10 out of 10 people found this helpful.
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La Vie En Rose (La Mome)
Added 10/31/2007
I saw La Vie En Rose in Los Angeles a few months ago. It was a great film, and Marion Cotillard, who played Edith Piaf, did break my heart. Nobody could perform the role of the French singer better than Marion. I am waiting to get this French version for I heard that the film was edited a lot when it showed in America for marketing purpose.
La Vie En Rose or "La Mome" in its French title shall win at the Oscar next year for the Best Foreign Language Film; this is my best hope for my beloved film because "La Mome" should deserve the very best in film making.
Thomas Le, Torrance, California, USA
Note: Marion Cotillard as my good guess did won an Oscar for "Best Actress" in 2007. Marion, congratulation to you!!!
Thomas Le
11 out of 14 people found this helpful.
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