Rien Ne Va Plus (Subtitled)

Advantages: The Music! The acting especially Marion Cotillard!
Disadvantages: Some important parts of Edith Piaf's life missing or glossed over.

...to make a biopic of singer. Yes, right. Whilst Dahan does play with the format shifting time somewhat (all done before!), the film is a biopic none-the-less. The petite songstress born Édith Giovanna Gassion, a tiny 4 feet 8 inches tall, is played by Marion Cotillard who does an admirable performance with a remarkable resemblance to Piaf both in looks and mannerisms. Even her lip synching to Piaf's voice was realistically done. The film begins and ends with Piaf's collapse on stage in New York whilst performing what has become her signature song "Non, je ne regretted rien". ThWe see the rest of her life through a series of flashbacks not always shown in chronological order which results in a rather fragmented account. Dahan presents a heart-wrenching account of Piaf's traumatic childhood. Taken from her neglectful street-singing mother... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A strong central performance from Marion Cotillard.
Disadvantages: A confusing narrative structure and a lack of sweet to temper the bitter.

...always found her rather grandiose and a tad melodramatic. However, you cannot fault the quality of the recordings, whether she was singing solo or backed by a full orchestra, you can hear every syllable and sigh as it was intended. From “Les Enfants de la Cloche” to the iconic “Je Ne Regrette Rien” there are plenty of recognisable tunes here. Christopher Gunning’s original score fills the gaps with booming brass, serious piano refrains and lots of accordion lest we forget the film is terribly French. He fits the music to the mood, though his use of music box-mimicking piano motifs during her childhood tragedies feels a little clichéd. “La Vie En Rose” is certainly no bed of roses. The writing and direction let the Piaf’s story down by focussing on the tragedies to almost the exclusion of the triumphs. It is difficult to watch and absorb all... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Outstanding visually
Disadvantages: Does the cover need to be like that to attract gay viewers???

...My problem with foreign films, aside from the fact if you look away from the screen for a moment you miss something that has been subtitled at the bottom, is that, in my experience, the actual film is pretty basic as far as the story is concerned, nothing special so to say. If you strip away the moody camera skills, melodic foreign tongues and mysterious actors, you are left with pretty much nothing else. Maybe films from other contries move us so much because we read the subtitles - the dialogue of the film seems to twirl around in our mind and in that respect we are more involved in the story then we might be if we were watching an english language film we didnt have to work at to comprehend. Presque rein is a love story set at a holiday destination on the coast of france ( not a french version of butlins before... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful