Marion Cotillard's win was a major shock to the US. Very few Americans had seen the movie, and hadn't even heard of her until that night. Facing accusation of "conspiracy" against the U.S, with 9/11 and moon landing theories.
I've been asked to write about her and her fantastic success,
in La Vie En Rose for an American magazine.
Despite all the fuss, and without concealing my pride, here it is!
Marion Cotillard born in 1975, began acting during her childhood, appearing on stage in one of her father's plays. Her career as a film actress began in the mid-1990s, with the production of Luc Besson, in Taxi (1998) which was a huge success in France.
She followed on with more than 20 various French film as Furia, Lisa, Taxi 2, Taxi 3… proving her ability to play a complex yet appealing modern romantic lead.
Although more widely known in France, Marion Cotillard was building an international presence.
In 2003, she had a small role in Tim Burton's film, Big Fish, which introduced her to English-speaking audiences. It was also her first both critically and financially successful film. She appeared in two critically acclaimed films in 2004:A Very Long Engagement, where she further demonstrated the range of her abilities by playing the murderous Tina Lombardi (garnering the César Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role), in the drama mystery Innocence. In 2006, she appeared in Ridley Scott's A Good Year.
She was chosen by director Olivier Dahan to portray the iconic French singer Edith Piaff in the biopic La Vie En Rose, before he had even met her, saying that in the eyes of Édith Piaf he noticed a similarity with Marion's own. Her portrayal was widely praised, including by the eminent English theatre director Sir Trevor Nunn, who described it as "one of the greatest performances on film ever." It was dubbed "the most awaited film of 2007" in France, where critics said that she had reincarnated Édith Piaf to sing one last time on stage.
According to Marlene Dietrich, chanteuse Edith Piaf’s voice was "the soul of Paris." This French drama explores the often troubled life of the singer as her fame took her from the City of Lights to America to the South of France. Abandoned by her mother, Piaf grew up in her grandmother’s brothel,and her father’s circus.
According to Marlene Dietrich, chanteuse Edith Piaf’s voice was "the soul of Paris." This French drama explores the troubled life of the singer as her fame took her from the City of Lights to America to the South of France. Abandoned by her mother, Piaf grew up in her grandmother’s brothel and her father’s circus. While singing on the streets of Paris as a teenager, Piaf is discovered by club owner Louis Leplée (Gérard Depardieu), and this chance encounter changes the woman’s life. Her powerful voice takes her all over the globe, but it can’t save her from the pain and suffering she can’t avoid.
As Edith Piaf, Marion Cotillard is mesmerizing. She fully inhabits the singer’s ivory skin. Like Walk The Line and Ray, this biopic creates a fascinating picture of an artist whose songs only begin to reflect the singer’s painful life.
But director-writer Olivier Dahan doesn’t take the traditional biopic way with La Vie En Rose. With such an eye for detail and created a wonderful, caring homage to Edith Piaf. The chemistry between Olivier Dahan and the hearted performance by Marion Cotillard is what made the story fascinating and visually stunning. Piaf's "memories" are just what the film examines as she starts to analize and remember fragmented moments in her life, and characters, relationships, lost loved ones are suddenly shifted and gone from one's perspective without being noticeable. Marion Cotillard is just as brilliant at playing the teenage Piaf as she is on her deathbed at the age of 47.
The amount of music, was done superbly as to not just make this a musical biography but an exciting picture of an era.
By the time the credits were rolling both of my shirtsleeves were damp with tears of sadness and tears of admiration in discovering much more about such a remarkable, true modern day, diva.
I highly recommend this film, and it’s Marion Cotillard amazing performance that makes La Vie En Rose so worth seeing.
-Laure Brosson-
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