Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque) (2010)

	Also Known As: Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life
	Year of first release: 2010
	Director: Joann Sfar
	Actors: Eric Elmosnino, Lucy Gordon (Spider-man 3), Laetitia Casta (Asterix & Obelix)
	Country: F
	Genre: Drama, Music
	Conditions of visioning: 02.07.2015, Blu-ray, Home cinema
Synopsis: A tale around the life of Lucien Ginsburg starting during WWII until he became one of the most famous French composer and singer: Serge Gainsbourg.
Review: The first movie by director Joann Sfar, who comes from graphic novels, earned him a French César prize. He made it clear that the movie was not intended to be a realistic biopic around the life of the polemic star, but rather a mix between true and imaginary events including the interventions of visions in the shape of cartoonesque alter-egos to the main character. I was disturbed at the beginning by the poor and exaggerated performance from the actor that plays the young Lucien Ginsburg and in that first half-hour I only liked the description of the events that will influence the whole life of the man. But my feeling changed completely once we switch to the adult Eric Elmosnino who plays with a remarkable naturalness: not only looking like Gainsbourg he reproduces his voice and manners. I also liked Laeticia Casta playing Brigitte Bardot, but less Sara Forestier as France Gall. Instead of relating the life of this man as seen from the rest of the world (like during scandalous TV interventions), the movie rather shows the world as it is seen from this man. Indeed he is present in every scene so that in spite of frequent ellipses spanning several years, we have no problem in following the adventures of Gainsbourg, in particular the romantic ones with the most beautiful of women. But music is still important in this movie and we get to witness the creation and/or recording of about ten of his notable songs, and it seemed to me that they are played in some slightly adapted versions which gives more life and originality to the movie than if it was just using the CD tracks that everybody know.
Rating: 7 /10