Edith Piaf's two-hour biopic

Rating: 7/10 (24 March 2008)

I've heard of Edith Piaf, but never really knew who she was, only that she's been mentioned several times in the Arts&Entertainment section of my local paper. This movie kind of shows Piaf's trauma and triumph during her lifetime. It's told in flashback, then cuts to present day and back again. Piaf was an alcoholic drug abuser, which caught up with her until she could no longer perform. The movie begins with her rough childhood upbringing, her estrangement from her parents and being taken care of at a brothel. Young Edith is reluctantly taken away from the brothel to perform with her alcoholic father, and she eventually becomes a street performer singing to make money, and to avoid prostitution. Fortunately for her she is discovered by a nightclub owner (played by Gerard Depardieu), and her career takes off.
"La Vie En Rose" does its best to tell Piaf's story in the space of 2 hours. Perhaps that's why Dahan told the story in flashback - flash forward sequences. The editing can be a little rattling, because the change in time sequence is done so often. I found the affair with the boxer quite interesting, though the boxing scene went on too long, and the fact that she had a daughter was only mentioned near the end of the movie. There's a lot of characters in this movie and sometimes it gets confusing how they tie in to her, and exactly who did she get married to?
Marion Cotillard superbly lip syncs to Piaf's incredibly strong vocals. Cotillard deserved all the awards she received for her portrayal as Piaf. She is unrecognizable in this film, and her gestures and voice articulate archival videos I've seen of the "Little Sparrow" (even with the height difference). Not enough credit, imho, is given to the Academy Award winning make-up department. I was really impressed how they transformed Cotillard into Piaf at later stages of her life.
Edith Piaf's story seems like a rags to riches, to good to be true story, that came true and met a sad end. Yet her voice and music live on. The pop star of her day.