In One Word: Wow!

Rating: 10/10 (16 February 2008)

I have been blessed in the past two weeks to see several extraordinarily-filmed movies but this might be the best of the bunch. In addition to the great cinematography, the story was terrific, an extremely powerful one. I can't believe how mesmerizing Marion Cotillard was in the lead role of "Edith Piaf."
The above superlatives, and ones mentioned below, by the way, come from a guy (me) who normally doesn't watch a lot of melodramas, either. But this film just stunned me....in every capacity. When it was over, all I could mutter was "wow!" It makes me want to know more about Piaf.
In order, I was most impressed with (1) Tetsuo Nagata's photography; (2) Cotillard's acting and her incredibly big-and-sad eyes which made Edith look unique; (3) the voice of Piaf. What a singer! Thankfully, we get to hear a lot of her songs in here; (4) Oliver Dahan's superb direction, and (5) the emotional story, which keeps you riveted to the screen for over two hours.
I had read where this is a depressing biopic - and I don't like those kind - but I didn't find it such. I found it more fascinating, than anything else. This woman really had her ups-and- downs, some of which was no fault of hers and some she caused. In either case, her life was an amazing one. To me, this is not a soap opera.
Also, I knew in advance - and it helped me, so I pass it along to you - that the film had a number of flashbacks. If you expect it, I don't think you'll be thrown off by them. Time goes back and forth a lot in here, but it concentrates much more on Edith's childhood and adult years. You don't see her as a physically sick woman except in short bursts.
That reminds me.....kudos to the makeup department, which did an incredible job of transforming Cotillard into someone who looked a lot older than her years,. and did it so well that one couldn't tell on closeup shots. To see Edith's appearance as a 40-something year old who looked 80 was shocking and made those many time transitions easier to discern.
"Props" should also be given to the two little girls who played Edith as a 5-year-old (Marion Chevalier) and as a 10-year-old (Pauline Burlet). They, too, were terrific.
Yes, there are flaws and/or puzzling omissions. I was surprised the World War II years were totally bypassed and that Piaf losing her child was almost an afterthought near the end of the film. That should have been a bigger part of her story. However, people have to realize that one can't cover everything in a famous person's biography in just a 140-minute film. There are bound to be many things left out, and you have to accept that.
Nonetheless, I still was thoroughly entertained and thought it was great and wonderful film-making.