La Vie en rose (film)

La Vie en Rose (French pronunciation: ​[la vi ɑ̃ ʁoz]) released in France as La Môme, is a 2007 French biographical musical film about the life of French singer Édith Piaf co-written, and directed by Olivier Dahan. Marion Cotillard stars as Piaf. The English title La Vie en Rose comes from Piaf's signature song.

Marion Cotillard won the Academy Award for Best Actress, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and the César Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her role, marking her the first time an Oscar had been given for a French-language role. The film also won the Academy Award for Best Makeup, the BAFTA Award for Best Makeup, Costume Design, Film Music and five Césars.

Plot

The film is structured as a largely non-linear series of key events from the life of Édith Piaf. The film begins with elements from her childhood, and at the end with the events prior to and surrounding her death, poignantly juxtaposed by a performance of her song, "Non, je ne regrette rien".

Marion Cotillard

Marion Cotillard (French pronunciation: ​[ma.ʁjɔ̃ kɔ.ti.jaʁ]; born 30 September 1975) is a French actress, singer-songwriter, environmentalist and spokesperson for Greenpeace. She has received worldwide acclaim and awards for her performances in films such as A Very Long Engagement (2004), La Vie en Rose (2007), Nine (2009), Inception (2010), Midnight in Paris (2011), Rust and Bone (2012), The Immigrant (2013) and Two Days, One Night (2014). In 2015, she starred as Lady Macbeth in Justin Kurzel's Macbeth, a new film adaptation of Shakespeare's play. She is also known for being the face of Lady Dior handbags since 2008.

In 2007, Cotillard starred as French singer Édith Piaf in La Vie en Rose, for which she received critical acclaim and won several awards, including the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, César Award, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. She is the first and (as of 2016) only actor to win an Academy Award for a performance in the French language. In 2010, she received a Golden Globe and a Critics' Choice Award nomination for her performance in the musical film Nine.

La Vie en rose

"La Vie en rose" (French pronunciation: ​[la vi ɑ̃ ʁoz]) was the signature song of French popular singer Édith Piaf, written in 1945, popularized in 1946, and released as a single in 1947. A cover version in 1977 by Jamaican singer Grace Jones was also a successful international hit. "La Vie en rose" has been covered by several artists over the years, including a 1993 version by American singer Donna Summer.

Édith Piaf version

Background and release

The song's title can be translated as "Life in Rosy Hues" or "Life Through Rose-Tinted Glasses"; its literal meaning is "Life in Pink".

The lyrics and melody of the song were written by Édith Piaf herself, but the melody was said officially to have been composed and registered by Louis Guglielmi (known as Louiguy) only, since at the time, due to the stringent registration requirements of SACEM, Piaf did not have the necessary qualifications to be able to copyright her work with SACEM. Piaf offered the song to Marianne Michel, who slightly modified the lyrics, changing "les choses" ("things") for "la vie" ("life"). English lyrics for the song were later written by Mack David and Frank Eyton. In 1943, Piaf had performed at a nightclub/bordello called "La Vie en Rose". Initially, Piaf's peers and songwriting team did not think the song would be successful, finding it weaker than the rest of her repertoire. Heeding their advice, the singer put the song aside, only to change her mind the next year. The song was performed live in concert for the first time in 1946. It became a favorite with audiences. "La Vie en rose" was the song that made Piaf internationally famous, with its lyrics telling about the joy of finding true love and appealing to those who had survived the difficult wartime.

Édith Piaf

Édith Piaf (French: [edit pjaf]; 19 December 1915 – 10 October 1963; born Édith Giovanna Gassion) was a French cabaret singer, songwriter and actress who became widely regarded as France's national chanteuse, as well as being one of France's greatest international stars.

Her music was often autobiographical with her singing reflecting her life, with her specialty being of chanson and torch ballads, particularly of love, loss and sorrow. Among her well known songs are "La Vie en rose" (1946), "Non, je ne regrette rien" (1960), "Hymne à l'amour" (1949), "Milord" (1959), "La Foule" (1957), "L'Accordéoniste" (1955), and "Padam ... Padam ..." (1951).

Since her premature death in 1963 and with the aid of several biographies and films including 2007's Academy Award winning La Vie en rose Piaf has cultivated a legacy as one of the greatest performers of the 20th century where her voice and music continues to be celebrated globally.

Family

Despite numerous biographies, much of Piaf's life is unknown. She was born Édith Giovanna Gassion in Belleville, Paris. Legend has it that she was born on the pavement of Rue de Belleville 72, but her birth certificate cites that she was born on 19 December 1915 at the Hôpital Tenon, a hospital located at the 20th arrondissement.