Flawed, but still tremendous.

Rating: 8/10 (24 March 2008)

La Vie en Rose tells the story of famous French singer Edith Piaf as she grew up. From living in a brothel, to singing in the streets for money, to finally fame and fortune as being considered "the voice of Paris," there is no doubt Piaf struggled and had a hard life. She used her phenomenal voice to convince others of her hardships and it was through her performance that people saw how she was able to overcome these obstacles. The film presents Piaf mostly in a sympathetic manner, but mostly the audience simply observes how she triumphs over life. Still, her life is not without pain as she struggles through losses and finally death. The acting is very good with Marion Cotillard giving a performance on the level of such like DeNiro's Jake LaMotta or Jim Carrey's Andy Kauffman. Completely embodying the character that was Piaf, Cotiilard gives an Oscar-nominee worthy performance. The other highlight is that of the makeup department. Their work is stunning and so important as we see Piaf in her final years in her mid forties but looking seventy. Overall, the film does merit some praise. The story flips between past and present too much to keep the audience fully interested, but it is still a great performance and one of the best films of 2007.