Coco Avant Chanel
Directed by Anne Fontaine
I don't often watch foreign language films. It's not because they're hard to understand, because the ones I watch are usually in French or Spanish, and I speak both. It's because I find foreign films just ... odd. Especially French ones, and especially French ones that aren't action films starring Jean Reno (dude is awesome). However, every once in a while a foreign film will catch my attention, and Coco avant Chanel was one such.
First of all, it stars Audrey Tautou and I make it a point to see her films when I can spare the time. I've loved her since her quirky performance in the epic Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, which should be MANDATORY VIEWING for everyone. Seriously. That movie is not just for French majors. Tautou has a magnificent ability to bring a certain je ne sais quoi to each of the roles she plays, and it's easy to see why she is an in-demand actress. She embodies each of her characters to the extent that it's difficult to see if she is acting or not, and she does it again in Coco avant Chanel. It is an interesting view of the life of one of the most celebrated designers of our time, and well worth the nearly two hours viewing time. Of course, since LOTR (bless you, P.J.) two hours doesn't seem all that much, especially when there are so many engaging moments of cringe-worthy humiliation, uplifting humour, cheeky witticisms and heart-breaking sadness.
The development of Tautou's character from bawdy, obscure entertainer, to the elegant and critical designer of haute couture is a fascinating study in the creation, destruction and recreation of the psychological and emotional self. It is impossible to fit the entirety of a life like Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel into one film, but director Anne Fontaine has done an admirable job of selecting the important bits and coaxing from Tautou what I think is one of her best performances. So, if you're looking for something a little different, something that will get you an impressed eyebrow lift from whoever you're currently flirting with, give this a go. You won't regret it.