La Vie En Rose

From her street-perfomer father to her brothel-running grandmother whom raised her, Edith Piaf (played by Marion Cotillard) was destined for an audacious life filled wiith both triump and tragedy. Director Olivier Dahan (The Cranberries' Best Videos: 1992-2002) illuminates all segments of her life in the tone of Piaf's jovial nature.

Ocassionally, and somewhat expectedly, parts of her life are glossed over in the name of damage control. The syringes, the tools of an addict, are featured prominently in the film, but the word "morphine" isn't once mouthed by anyone. Her aloof, incapable parents are practically co-stars from the beginning; but her own failure as a parent isn't revealed until the end of the film. Watching a child unexpectedly battle blindness is an opportune moment for a filmmaker, whereas being deaf after overcoming blindness spoils the pacing of the film. Though, ultimately, the film serves as an intriguing depiction of the life of Edith Piaf.

Born in the poverty-stricken Belleville district in Paris, doom was merely young Piaf's (Manon Chevallier) birthright. Piaf is a frail child who battles an onslaught of ailments from a hacking cough to conjunctivitis. Her mother, Anetta (Clotilide Courau) is a drunk street singer herself, and abandones Edith at a disturbingly young age. Her father, Louis Gassion (Jean-Paul Rouve), is a talented contortionist who made his living at the circus; but, after seeing Edith inching towards her deathbed, decides to join the army in hopes of stability. He takes Edith away from her "foster home" of sorts, and takes her to visit her not very grandmotherly grandmother. It is during this visit that it is decided that Edith will live in the brothel where she develops a particularly strong bond with one of the protistutes, Titine (Emmanuelle Seigner).

Eventually, her father comes back for adolescent Piaf (Pauline Burlet), and to the streets they go. Him, performing his contortionist feats, and her, holding out a hat for change. Then, an audience member asks if she is also part of the perfomance, and alas, her street singing career begins.

Shortly, thereafter, she branches out to become her own street performer with best friend Momone (Sylvie Testud), and the tables have turned. Piaf is now the performer, and Momone the hat holder. It doesn't take too long for her overwhelming talent to become noticed by people who can do something about it, like night-club owner Louis Leplee (Gerard Depardieu) who gave her the last name Piaf because of her undersized stature.

Fame brings her riches, and problems alike. Pressure, love, death, and haunting memories seem to work against her at all times in her life but is mitigated when she is with her true love, boxer, Marcel Cerdan (Jean-Pierre Martins).

Though, by age 44 she looks as if she were a sickly 70 year old, and her performing career has practically ended; her legacy will clearly live on forever. With a character like Piaf it is nearly impossible for this film to be unmemorable. All in all, this should certainly be at the top of everyone's must-see queue.