The biopic La Vie en Rose (also known as “Life in Pink”) is about the legendary French singer Edith Piaf. The title refers to Edith Piaf’s iconic song, which has been translated into other languages. In France, the movie was released under the name “La Môme” (the tiny bird), which was Piaf’s nickname at the beginning of her career.
The movie chronicles Piaf’s life from childhood to her deathbed, focusing on the key moments of her life, including her street singing in Paris, her rise to fame, her heartbreak, and her personal problems.
The life of Piaf (Marion Cotillard) is incredibly fascinating. Her mother left her to pursue a career as an artist while her father was serving on the front lines of World War I. When he comes back, she is sick and abandoned. He then leaves Piaf in the care of his mother, a brothel owner. She was introduced to the harsh lifestyle of the brothel girls, but they nevertheless protected her, notably Titine (Emmanuelle Seigner), who cared for her like a family member. A few years later, much to Titine’s dismay, the father who had been an acrobat at a circus returns for his daughter.
Her father, who is soon without a job, decides to put on a show in the streets of Paris, bringing his 9-year-old daughter along for her debut in front of an audience. It is at this point that she decides to use her voice because she was made to perform. She benefits from the streets when nightclub owner Louis Leplée (Gerard Depardieu) discovers her years later and helps her reach popularity.
With cause-and-effect sequences that highlight how her childhood has affected her present, her songs, and her personality, the movie cuts back and forth between her past and present. As much as Edith Piaf won over millions of people all around the world, Marion Cotillard’s portrayal of this famous star is no less spellbinding. The film is indeed a must-watch.
In 2008, Marion Cotillard won the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role and Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald won the Best Achievement in Makeup.
