COCO BEFORE CHANEL – Reviewed by Alex

I’ve never seen a film of director Anne Fontaine’s (How I Killed My Father; The Girl From Monaco) before. I was reminded at a few moments in this film of the visual style of Sofia Coppola, which is a good thing in my book. I look forward to seeing Fontaine’s style grow and evolve in future films.

I’m very pleased that it was a woman who directed this film, because she successfully manages to showcase the singular experience of a woman living in difficult circumstances, held back by both her class and gender, who found ways to meet her challenges head-on and was eventually able to change a small part of the world. You also really get a sense of the factors in her life that influenced her work and her rebelliously simple aesthetic during a period of impractical excess in fashion.

After reading a bit about Coco Chanel, I realized that the film really does just focus on her early years, and leaves out some noteworthy facts that put Mlle. Chanel in a potentially unflattering light. For example, although she sensibly closed down shop during WWII, she received criticism in Paris after she became involved with a Nazi spy (who arranged for her to remain in her home there) during those years. However, the film does work to show some possible reasons for her actions – as an unmarried woman she had no support and was often forced to turn to certain men, whether or not she wanted to, in order to survive.

Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel is presented as an intelligent and intriguing character – a forward-thinking woman in an anti-woman age. In many ways, she is shown breaking down barriers everywhere she goes – from literally ripping up a corset so its wearer could move, to starting her own business in a time and place where women were expected to obediently sit at home. Chanel came from a disadvantaged background and went as far as lying about herself to try and evade second-class treatment. Audrey Tautou (Dirty Pretty Things; A Very Long Engagement), who was born to do this kind of period piece, does a fantastic job of internalizing her character so that one can sense her thoughts and emotions judging by facial expressions alone. The supporting cast also does a great job telling the story. The visual tone of the movie is intimate and not overly nostalgic. The dark sides of the times remain ever-present, as I’m sure Fontaine meant it to be. This is one of those well-done bio-pics that doesn’t just show a historical figure, and doesn’t just show a one-dimensional person. Using the distance of many decades to its advantage, this film provides a broad yet detailed view of history, while at the same time telling the story of a relatable human being. – [DVD] [Blu-Ray]

Biography/Drama

Rated PG-13

DVD Release Date: 2/16/10