Monday, March 14, 2011

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.

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