La vie en rose (2007)
"La môme" (original title)

The life story of singer Édith Piaf.

Director:

Olivier Dahan

Writers:

Isabelle Sobelman, Olivier Dahan

Stars:

Marion Cotillard, Sylvie Testud, Pascal Greggory

Won 2 Oscars. Another 36 wins & 35 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marion Cotillard	...	Edith Piaf
Sylvie Testud	...	Mômone
Pascal Greggory	...	Louis Barrier
Emmanuelle Seigner	...	Titine
Jean-Paul Rouve	...	Louis Gassion
Gérard Depardieu	...	Louis Leplée
Clotilde Courau	...	Anetta
Jean-Pierre Martins	...	Marcel Cerdan
Catherine Allégret	...	Louise
Marc Barbé	...	Raymond Asso
Caroline Sihol	...	Marlene Dietrich (as Caroline Silhol)
Manon Chevallier	...	Edith - 5 years old
Pauline Burlet	...	Edith - 10 years old
Elisabeth Commelin	...	Danielle Bonel
Marc Gannot	...	Marc Bonel

Storyline

An un-chronological look at the life of the Little Sparrow, Édith Piaf (1915-1963). Her mother is an alcoholic street singer, her father a circus performer, her paternal grandmother a madam. During childhood she lives with each of them. At 20, she's a street singer discovered by a club owner who's soon murdered, coached by a musician who brings her to concert halls, and then quickly famous. Constant companions are alcohol and heartache. The tragedies of her love affair with Marcel Cerdan and the death of her only child belie the words of one of her signature songs, "Non, je ne regrette rien." The back and forth nature of the narrative suggests the patterns of memory and association.

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Plot Keywords:

singer | singing | concert | song | childhood | 

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Taglines:

The passionate life of Edith Piaf

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for substance abuse, sexual content, brief nudity, language and thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [fr] Official site [uk]

Country:

France UK Czech Republic

Language:

French English

Release Date:

14 February 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

La vie en rose

Filming Locations:

Brasserie Julien, 16 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, Paris 10, Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£205,659 (UK) (22 June 2007)

Gross:

$10,299,782 (USA) (4 April 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Légende Films, TF1 International, TF1 Films Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film became the third-highest-grossing French-language film in the United States since 1980 (behind Amélie and Brotherhood of the Wolf).

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Goofs

Just before the scene where Edith drives a convertible, a caption reads "California, August 1955." The car is a 1956 Chevrolet, which was introduced in November 1955.

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Quotes

American journalist: If you were to give advice to a woman, what would it be?
Edith Piaf: Love.
American journalist: To a young girl?
Edith Piaf: Love.
American journalist: To a child?
Edith Piaf: Love.

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Connections

Referenced in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Episode #7.4 (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Milord"
Written by Marguerite Monnot, Georges Moustaki
Performed by Édith Piaf

User Reviews

No Regrets

It is a crime that most people in America do not know of Piaf or her music. Or if they do it is thanks to the Grace Jones version of LA VIE EN ROSE (which is not half bad).

Marion Cotillard as Piaf was a dream to watch... particularly when she played the older Piaf. Her pain, her loss came through exquisitely. And even the two actresses who played Piaf earlier in life were excellent. The director - Olivier Dahan - has been criticized (and rightly so) in other postings. But in the case of the 3 Piafs he has done his job well, creating the full character of the woman.

And for me the highlight was toward the end when Piaf sings NON,JE NE REGRETTE RIEN (NO REGRETS). The song written for Piaf is a summation of the film and her life. And for the first time in a VERY long time, I actually had tears on my face in a cinema.

That alone is a very high recommendation.