Coco Before Chanel
Directed by:
Anne FontaineCinematography:
Christophe BeaucarneComposer:
Alexandre DesplatCast:
Audrey Tautou, Benoît Poelvoorde, Alessandro Nivola, Marie Gillain, Emmanuelle Devos, Bruno Abraham-Kremer, Jean-Chrétien Sibertin-Blanc, Jana Bittnerová (more)Plots(1)
The story of Gabrielle Chanel, who begins her life as a headstrong orphan, and through an extraordinary journey becomes the legendary couturier who embodied the modern woman and became a timeless symbol of success, freedom and style. At once a period drama, a fiery romance and a compelling biopic, Coco Before Chanel is an unforgettable and beautiful film. Working as a seamstress and some-time barroom singer, Coco meets Étienne Balsan, a charming playboy who becomes intrigued by the striking, obstinate woman who refuses to conform. Swept up in the world of high society in which he exists, Coco soon draws the eyes of society towards her with her unconventional, elegant style in a time of excess. Just as controversial is the passionate love affair in which she becomes entangled – a love so dangerous and forbidden it threatens to destroy her. (StudioCanal UK)
(more)Reviews (3)
Cultured, conservative, and horribly mannerist. That might not be a problem, but aren't these the very traits that Coco Chanel fought against with her work? From my point of view, Anne Fontaine has simply reduced the personality of the revolutionary to a middle-class spectacle for the readers of style magazines.
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Coco Before Chanel is paradoxically perfectly complementary to the film Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky because it deals with exactly the period in Gabriela's life before Igor. And Audrey Tautou her a face to the version of Coco who was still a nobody, still an independent young lady stifled by the conventions of Art Nouveau society. She wasn't somebody yet, but she knew that she could achieve success by associating with the right men. Gabriela was very smart and in retrospect it seems she was emancipated as well, but she just always wanted to be independent.
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This is an example that not all biographical films are absolutely captivating. Yes, Audrey Tautou played the offered role brilliantly, on the other hand, it doesn't bring much innovation and it basically just captures a dry segment of the life of a famous French fashion woman, the segment before she became so famous and respected. Hence the French title, which is much more descriptive than the dull Czech one.
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