IndieFlix Blog

Admittedly, I had no idea who Edith Piaf was, and as the theatre filled to the brim with excited filmgoers tittering excitedly about the singer, my anticipation and curiosity were seriously piqued by the time the film began.

There is no disappointment to be had by this biopic film.  Whether one’s knowledgeable about the intense life of Edith Piaf or not, it’s beauty and art as portrayed by Olivier Dahan and starred by the brilliant Marion Cotillard is incorrigible.  The time periods range from Edith’s youth, to her prime, and finally to her last days, in no particular order.  While such time-jumping in other films has thrown off an audience or made for difficult comprehension of the plot, Dahan does so seamlessly, each scene enriching its follow-up as it goes along.

However, the heavy intensity and range of emotions the audience felt wouldn’t have been possible without the talent of Marion Cotillard, who had seemed to completely become immersed in the character, the woman, of Edith Piaf herself.  Compared to archival footage of the real Edith Piaf, it seemed as though she had been brought back to life for this film, and the effect was staggering.

Though more serious and drama-filled than carefree, “La vie en rose” is a powerful movie with all the makings of a classic.