Gainsbourg (Une vie heroique)

This creative film by cartoonist Joann Sfar was an engaging look at the French cultural icon and singer, Serge Gainsbourg. Sfar starts with Gainsbourg's childhood in Nazi occupied Paris where as a Jew, he had to wear a gold star. However despite this being a tense time in French history, a sense of whimsy is introduced with the imaginings of a fantastical creature who accompanies the young Gainsbourg while he was hiding from the Germans. This comes from Sfar's cartoonist imagination, which is in turn carried on to the singer's adulthood, where Gainsbourg's alter-ego, a very tall creature with an exaggerated nose and fingers, critiques and advises him about his life. The film is not a biography of Gainsbourg per say, but more of a interpretation of his myth. But a biographical chronology is followed including the episodes of his relationships with Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin. The self-destructive nature of his smoking and drinking is not ignored, but forms a part of the persona that was this man, rather than having you feel any kind of pity for him. The actor who played Gainsbourg, Eric Elmosnino, portrayed such a strong likeness of the singer and won a French Cesar award for his performance. Laeticia Casta was also excellent as Brigitte Bardot. A number of Gainsbourg's songs were also performed in the film, which added to the authenticity of the film and the character.

Cesars du Cinema: Results

The big winner at the Cesars du Cinema in Paris on February 25, 2011 was The Ghost Writer with Roman Polanski winning as Best Director for this film. This film also won for Best Adaptation, Best Music, and Best Film Editing. The film, Gainsbourg (Vie Heroique), about the French pop singer won the Best Actor award as well as for the Best First Film for its director, Joann Sfar. This film will be showing at Brandeis University on March 12, 2011. Des hommes et des dieux, about Trappist monks living in an impoverished community in Algeria who are threatened by terrorists won Best Film. This film will be opening in Boston in late March 2011.