La Vie en Rose (Extended Version)

Beautiful film, thoughtfully structured. Normally multiple flashbacks are a huge red flag, but in this case it works. Ms. Cotillard is astonishing, downplaying her own beauty and disappearing into Piaf. The shoot must have been physically and psychically brutal. The only flaws with the story are not the film makers' particular fault. One, Piaf has no arc (outside of her career). She was a reactive person by nature and remained so through-out her life. They try to give her a sense of peace and reflection in a scene on a California beach but it is one of the few scenes that rings hollow. The other (minor) issue is obviously this is a French film and the makers tend to assume that a French audience will mostly know the (tragic) beats of her story, such is her status in the pantheon. For an American audience, however, this is problematic. Piaf's daughter is introduced by her childhood death by meningitis. It is horrible, but less horrible than it might have been had we known she even had a daughter by a husband we had just met. Also WW2 is skipped over with one throw away scene where she meets a soldier leaving for the front. Her affair with Cerdan, however, is wonderfully done, handled with both substance and great delicacy. His death tears your heart out - even if you know it is coming. The actor who plays Cerdan is credible as both the man and the boxer. I'm sure most Americans don't know France ever had a serious boxer, much less a world champion, but it is true. A fine, fine portrayal.Finally, the music. I am no musicologist so I am not going to comment on that, but her performances and songs will outlive all of us, and the film is both generous and clever in handling the music. This is what they used to call a twenty hankie movie, and it is all of that. Preparez vos mouchoirs, as they say.A couple of interesting points: Claude Lelouch made 'Edith and Marcel' in '83 casting Cerdan's real son as his father. I'm not going to comment until I can go back and screen it again, it's been too many years, but it is probably worth digging up. Finally, a film about Cerdan starring Patrick Dewaere was in production when Dewaere committed suicide, the awful loss of a wonderful young actor.

[The DVD bought in 2008 had part near Le Acordioniste, Mr. Emer, where DVD became unreadable.] The film, Marion Cottiniard were amazing. I would add that those criticized film for being a little vulgar, well that was true to the character of Edith Piaf. EP was a one of a kind who took license to act the way she felt like acting, which for the most part brought out her prodigious talent as a singer and one who emotes what they sing. Moreover, due to her childhood challenges, she continued to feel under siege in her career and was never able to examine her bad, self-destructive habits, which went truly out of control at the death of her love, Marcel Cerdan. A film should ideally portray the real person not provide a sanitized version which some feel more comfortable with. Finally, I would address the issue of her behavior during WWII. I think her personal, developmental problems influenced that significantly as one who see herself as a person from the streets or living on the fringe, doesn't naturally transform into a 'resistance' fighter. That being said, she wasn't a collaborationist either, nor was she anti-Semitic, but she was a wounded survivor who did what her failed education and life experience compelled her to do.

Hahahaha like her famous song I too have no regrets for this item

I don't claim to be anything more than I am. An American who served in the French Foreign Legion. My first experience of the French culture was Edith Piaf. Her voice gave the French a soul, a soul that anyone from anywhere could comprehend. A few years after I left the Legion, I saw this film. It brought me to tears. I had never known the sorrow that Edith knew, but watching this film I could attempt to grasp a faint understanding. It was not a sorrow that Edith knew alone, it was shared in the essence of the French. Marion Cotillard, was born for this role. She gave all of herself, briefly, so that we could be closer to Edith. Every time I see this film Marion Cotillard gives me a wonderful gift and brings me closer to Edith Piaf and to the soul of France. I may not be a son of France by birth, but one by adoption. I have grown to love what makes France so wonderful. The heart of its people. It's stories. I hope that this film gives you what it gave me, a reason to love!

Weather you know or love Piaf you simply must see this movie.Cotillard is nothing short of brilliant owning the role of a lifetime. The movie is long but addicting and I couldnt' stop wathcing.Creative and well paced as well as beautifully directed.It is not easy to make a film or play the lead role of what amounts to a French Saint; but this movie delivers.I cannot imagine anyone saying anything but bravo for this beautiful, haunting inspiring and ultimately stunning tribute to one of the Frances' greatest artistic legends.Cotillard is both stunning and scary in her portrayal as she is so one with the character.The color and scenic work is done just as well and the sound and music are seemless.And not to forget the supporting cast who are at time a bit mannered but never boring or out of place just actors playing the French artists crowd.The liberties taken to make the story flow work;just work for this film.The young Piaf is wonderfully acted as well.I thoroughly enjoyed this film and to end on or near her singing "Her Song" No regrets , had me standing.Was Piaf perfect? Was she a survivor? Yes!! And thank goodness she was. Her singing sets the soul on fire and what errors she might have made in the eyes of those who see life in the political sense only, fall by the wayside with this woman's deeply personaljourney and survival and her gift of sharing that with Her audience.