Introducing The Legendary Edith Piaf

Rating: Null/10 (15 March 2008)

'La Môme' (aka 'La Vie en Rose') tells the story of the unforgettable Edith Piaf. In my opinion, it is perhaps one of the best biopics of recent time. The direction is very unique and Dahan's intrigue in and inspiration from Piaf's life clearly shows as he visually narrates her story. The story moves back and forth and forward from Piaf's childhood and youth towards her prime and final years. Basically we see the story of a little girl living with prostitutes and a circus group, that of a young 20-year old busker making it big for a while before falling down, that of a famous singer involved in a star-crossed relationship with a boxer and that of an older lady who has 'lost' everything but looks back at her life and regrets nothing (powerfully expressed in "Je ne regrette rien".
The soundtrack deserves credit as it keeps the viewer amused and engaged and it adds to the unique feel of the film. Piaf's powerful voice and her songs have been well utilized. The film does a wonderful job of presenting some of her best songs to the audience. The playful cinematography and lighting deserve credit too as they give a more polished look. The editing is crisp and slick.
Marion Cotillard delivers a spellbinding performance. I don't even know where to begin to describe the sheer power of her performance. She is unrecognizable as Cotillard and it wouldn't be difficult for one to forget that they were actually watching the actress. Credit goes to the makeup department as well for giving her the sparrow-like (a la môme) look and Cotillard takes it further by completely immersing herself into Edith.
The supporting cast is efficient even though they are given very small roles. I've never really liked Emmanuelle Seigner but here she totally blew me away with her brief role. Gérard Depardieu, Jean-Pierre Martins and Sylvie Testud too are effective in their small roles. But this is a one-woman-show carried by Ms. Cotillard. It's easily one of her best roles and one of the most powerful performances by a woman.
Most, biopics that document the person's life are known to be tragic but 'La Môme' does have a lot of comedy that is smartly subtle and some not-so-subtle funny moments that brilliantly maintain the balance of the intense and comic moments. 'La Môme' is a beautiful and profound film about a strong woman and her love and passion for singing. This is one magically moving movie-watching experience.