TRUE STORY OF THE WEEK : "LA MÔME"

Now correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure you remember “La Môme” – also known as “La Vie En Rose”. Oh come on, sure you do, it “made” Marion Cotillard. In 2007 It basically wiped the floor with everything it faced at every award ceremony from BAFTAs to Ocars®. The other actresses, admirable as I am sure they were, didn’t stand a chance! But dear God, what a movie that was…
It is, as you know or probably have guessed, the life story of Edith Piaf. Born into a poor family, her father was a circus performer and she had to keep the both of them (plus her father’s drinking habit) afloat with renditions of the Marseillaise on street corners. She was discovered under rather similar circumstances some few years later. One day as she sang various cabaret songs on another street corner with her good friend Mômone, she is discovered by Papa Leplée, a cabaret owner (played by the French films staple Gerard Depardieu). Luck combined with Piaf’s amazing talent and hard work made her the star she is today. Her life story was successful but not always happy. It was marred with sadness, death and drugs, to the point that at 40 she almost looked 70. But at the end of the day, that life was so full, we can almost hear her claiming loudly “Je ne regrette rien” – I regret nothing right to the end.
After the first two films I reviewed this week I desperately hunted around for something a bit happier, but unfortunately to no avail. That is not to say this is an entirely “sad” movie. I mean true enough, there is a lot of sadness in the film, but such is life. All through the film we have the beautiful music and Piaf’s undaunted spirit leading the way. The film definitely captures the essence of Piaf and as for Marion Cotillard, she deserves her place in history for her performance. And something has to be said for the make-up, décor and costumes, all won numerous prestigious awards that year. You are transported right to the ‘40s . And Cotillard looks so much like Piaf it’s almost spooky.
Both Cotillard and the film – and in fact Piaf as well at the time – just tells it like it is. Gives it to you straight. And the story is told with such quality that you will clap your hands and bounce around as the rollercoaster goes up and reach for handfuls of tissues as it goes down. This is a seriously “good” quality film. And if you’re any sort of “cinephile” you will put it on your “to watch” list, right now.