La Vie en Rose (French, 2007)

It is difficult to overstate the necessary caliber of a woman who was raised in a filthy whorehouse, sung and slept on the street, traveled with the circus, lost her child at 20, went blind for a time, was wrongly accused of murder, struggled with a drug addiction and lost other loved ones by the bucketload in her life, and still got up on stage at the end of her life to sing "Je ne regrette rien". La Vie en Rose documents each stage of Edith Piaf's life with creative direction and an intensely brilliant performance by its lead actress, Marion Cotillard.

Cotillard, who won the Best Actress Oscar for this film in 2007, gives additional life to Piaf (who already was a larger than life character in her own right) and will hopefully introduce a new legion of fans for this early 20th century star. Even if you've never heard the name Edith Piaf before, you certainly know her music. In the iconic scene in "Saving Private Ryan", Piaf's hit "Tu Es Partout" provides the soundtrack while the platoon waiting on a German offensive strike. Or in "Inception" where "Je ne regrette rien" is used as the musical Kick needed to help DiCaprio and Company return from a level of sleep.

If you are put off by foreign language films with subtitles, make an exception for this film. As a biopic, Edith Piaf's gravelly voice works its way through her life to the accompaniment of her distinctive songs. I guarantee you will be a fan of Piaf after viewing this film.



Recommended by Monica Shine
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