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Special Features
- 2-disc collector's set
- "Joann Sfar (Drawings)" - a documentary by Mathieu Amalric
- Original storyboards and character sketches by Joann Sfar
- "The Making of Gainsbourg"
- Theatrical trailer
- "Joann Sfar (Drawings)" - a documentary by Mathieu Amalric
- Original storyboards and character sketches by Joann Sfar
- "The Making of Gainsbourg"
- Theatrical trailer
Editorial Reviews
Review
"If only all biopics were this entertaining." --New York Daily News
"Eric Elmosnino is brilliantly right." --Film Journal
"Pop singer, sexual provocateur and the personification of 1960s cool." --Wall Street Journal
"Eric Elmosnino is brilliantly right." --Film Journal
"Pop singer, sexual provocateur and the personification of 1960s cool." --Wall Street Journal
Product Description
Taking the best from LA VIE EN ROSE and AMÉLIE, renowned comic book artist Joann Sfar s GAINSBOURG: A HEROIC LIFE is a completely original take on one of France s greatest mavericks, the illustrious and infamous Jewish singer-songwriter, Serge Gainsbourg (Eric Elmosnino). Born Lucien Ginsburg to Russian-Jewish parents, Sfar follows him from his precocious childhood in Nazi-occupied Paris, to his beginnings as small time jazz musician and finally pop superstar. Along the way he romances many of the era s most beautiful women, including Juliette Greco (Anna Mouglalis), Brigitte Bardot (Laetitia Casta) and Jane Birkin (Lucy Gordon). Employing a witty surrealistic style and a soundtrack that includes many of the musician s greatest hits, GAINSBOURG: A HEROIC LIFE is a quintessential time capsule to 60 s Paris.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Comics Artist Joann Sfar has made a successful foray into Film Directing, with Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life (2010) This film biography of French Musician and Artist Serge Gainsbourg draws on Sfar's abilities as a comic book artist through its extensive use of fantasy artwork, animation and puppetry. Sfar wrote the screenplay based on his graphic novel. Sfar is a self-confessed Gainsbourg fanatic, and it is easy to see why: they both share an affinity for drawing and painting, and both are French, but with Jewish heritage.
Gainsbourg grew up during the Nazi occupation of Paris, and that is where this film bio begins. Lucien Ginsburg is a most precocious young student at Art School, who also has a talent for music. His father makes his living as a bar room pianist. Lucien, played by Kacey Mottet Klein, has a very active imagination, and his imaginary friend takes on a life of his own, depicted as an egg like head that grows and grows until it explodes, leaving a tall ladies man who doesn't let his long nose or strange looks get in the way of his conquests. Sfar uses his own artistic talent to depict Gainsbourg's alter ego as a Sesame Street Muppet-like puppet--he looks a lot like Count von Count, the vampire who was obsessed with counting. This seems like an odd mix for a film about a decadent French Rock Star that is not for children, but it works because it really gives an insight into the interior world of Serge. It is his alter ego who gives the shy young man confidence and career advice, such as to go all out in playing guitar like the two fingered gypsy Django Reinhardt, and to ditch his art in favor of pop music.
Eric Elmosnino plays Gainsbourg as a young man onwards, and he was a real find for director Sfar. Sfar had wanted to use Gainsbourg's daughter in the film, a la Dylan biopic I'm Not There's fluid concept of gender and identity, but she pulled out while still giving her family's blessing on the project. Elmosnino does a great job, depicting Gainsbourg convincingly from his early twenties to his death in his sixties. It is quite a heroic life spanning very tumultuous times. The chain smoking, hard drinking, Artist/Composer/Rock Star wades through various lovers, singers, and Artists, in a life that is nothing if not heroic. Laetitia Casta is cast as Brigitte Bardot, Anna Mouglalis portrays chanteuse Juliette Gréco, and Sara Forestier plays French Pop Tart France Gall, along with many other superb performances from the supporting cast.
The Bottom Line is that Director Joann Sfar has created an illuminating portrait of Serge Gainsbourg, and Eric Elmosnino has turned in a brilliant performance, displaying all of Gainsbourg's quirky genius for the world to see. Je'taime.
I'm Not There (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (2007)
La Vie en Rose (Extended Version) (2007)
Control (The Miriam Collection) (2007)
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) Les parapluies de Cherbourg (original title)
Shoot the Piano Player (The Criterion Collection) (1960) Tirez sur le pianiste (original title)
Last Tango in Paris (1972) Ultimo tango a Parigi (original title)
Beauty and The Beast (The Criterion Collection) (1946) La belle et la bęte (original title)
Children of Paradise (The Criterion Collection) (1945) Les enfants du paradis (original title)
The Best of Django Reinhardt
Histoire de Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg
Gainsbourg grew up during the Nazi occupation of Paris, and that is where this film bio begins. Lucien Ginsburg is a most precocious young student at Art School, who also has a talent for music. His father makes his living as a bar room pianist. Lucien, played by Kacey Mottet Klein, has a very active imagination, and his imaginary friend takes on a life of his own, depicted as an egg like head that grows and grows until it explodes, leaving a tall ladies man who doesn't let his long nose or strange looks get in the way of his conquests. Sfar uses his own artistic talent to depict Gainsbourg's alter ego as a Sesame Street Muppet-like puppet--he looks a lot like Count von Count, the vampire who was obsessed with counting. This seems like an odd mix for a film about a decadent French Rock Star that is not for children, but it works because it really gives an insight into the interior world of Serge. It is his alter ego who gives the shy young man confidence and career advice, such as to go all out in playing guitar like the two fingered gypsy Django Reinhardt, and to ditch his art in favor of pop music.
Eric Elmosnino plays Gainsbourg as a young man onwards, and he was a real find for director Sfar. Sfar had wanted to use Gainsbourg's daughter in the film, a la Dylan biopic I'm Not There's fluid concept of gender and identity, but she pulled out while still giving her family's blessing on the project. Elmosnino does a great job, depicting Gainsbourg convincingly from his early twenties to his death in his sixties. It is quite a heroic life spanning very tumultuous times. The chain smoking, hard drinking, Artist/Composer/Rock Star wades through various lovers, singers, and Artists, in a life that is nothing if not heroic. Laetitia Casta is cast as Brigitte Bardot, Anna Mouglalis portrays chanteuse Juliette Gréco, and Sara Forestier plays French Pop Tart France Gall, along with many other superb performances from the supporting cast.
The Bottom Line is that Director Joann Sfar has created an illuminating portrait of Serge Gainsbourg, and Eric Elmosnino has turned in a brilliant performance, displaying all of Gainsbourg's quirky genius for the world to see. Je'taime.
I'm Not There (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (2007)
La Vie en Rose (Extended Version) (2007)
Control (The Miriam Collection) (2007)
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) Les parapluies de Cherbourg (original title)
Shoot the Piano Player (The Criterion Collection) (1960) Tirez sur le pianiste (original title)
Last Tango in Paris (1972) Ultimo tango a Parigi (original title)
Beauty and The Beast (The Criterion Collection) (1946) La belle et la bęte (original title)
Children of Paradise (The Criterion Collection) (1945) Les enfants du paradis (original title)
The Best of Django Reinhardt
Histoire de Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
"Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life" (2010 release; France; 130 min.) was in US movie theatres last Summer. It brings a non-traditional retelling of the "heroic" life of Serge Gainsbourg, France's original but talented "bad boy" singer/songwriter/performer. Why non-traditional? For one because the movie jumps back-and-forth between various phases of Gainsbourg's life. For another because the director brings an imaginary animated character into the movie ("good" vs. "bad" Gainsbourg), Don't let that stop you from watching this movie. I just went with the flow, and really enjoyed this a lot. It was pure eye and ear candy to see how songs like "La Javanaise", "Requiem Pour Un C..", "Bonnie and Clyde" (duet with Brigitte Bardot) and of course "Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus" (duet with Jane Birkin) came about.
The acting is nothing short of amazing thoughout the movie. Éric Elmosnino as Serge Gainsbourg looks like a reincarnated Gainsbourg, and in fact he did all the singing in this movie himself (he rightfully won an French Oscar-equivalent for Best Actor for this role). But also worth mentioning are Lucy Gordon as Jane Birkin, and Lćtitia Casta as Brigitte Bardot (sadly, Lucy Gordon committed suicide shortly after fliming of this movie wrapped).
I am a life-long fan of Serge Gainsbourg, having grown up in Belgium. Having see this movie last summer, it ignited a Gainsbourg "re-appreciation" period for me, as I relistened to several of his albums, and I even got to see Jane Birkin live in concert for the first time ever in December of last year. All that aside, if you are a fan of Gainsbourg, you cannot go wrong with this movie. But even if you're not super into Gainsbourg, I will venture that you can enjoy this movie for what it is: a celebration of a unique talent in France's performing history. "Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
The acting is nothing short of amazing thoughout the movie. Éric Elmosnino as Serge Gainsbourg looks like a reincarnated Gainsbourg, and in fact he did all the singing in this movie himself (he rightfully won an French Oscar-equivalent for Best Actor for this role). But also worth mentioning are Lucy Gordon as Jane Birkin, and Lćtitia Casta as Brigitte Bardot (sadly, Lucy Gordon committed suicide shortly after fliming of this movie wrapped).
I am a life-long fan of Serge Gainsbourg, having grown up in Belgium. Having see this movie last summer, it ignited a Gainsbourg "re-appreciation" period for me, as I relistened to several of his albums, and I even got to see Jane Birkin live in concert for the first time ever in December of last year. All that aside, if you are a fan of Gainsbourg, you cannot go wrong with this movie. But even if you're not super into Gainsbourg, I will venture that you can enjoy this movie for what it is: a celebration of a unique talent in France's performing history. "Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Roberto
I don't usually care for film biographies, especially about rock stars or pop culture. It is usually someone being portrayed as a narcissist/self-centered/junkie/drunk "artist".
In a shallow view, "Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life" can be one more of these movies. Certainly the "A Heroic Life" helps. What is so "heroic" about his life? That he nailed BB, Jane Birkin among others? Maybe. That's something beyond reach of any mere mortal. He was a great poet and musician and produced amazing works of art. I am not sure if that is enough to qualify someone as "heroic".
The big difference between this movie and others from the genre is the approach of that inner Dionysian voice that is inside us all. Some of us totally ignore this voice, some dispute her balancing with other voices that are also inside us that control our reason and some of us obey that voice blindly. This movie is mostly about the relationship between Serge and that voice. There is one scene that Serge told the voice to go away and that he didn't need her anymore. He didn't need her because he just didn't need her or because he became the voice?
I found this an amazing movie. Well made, amazing acting and so on. And, yes. It was indeed a treat to be in the same room when Serge played his songs to Brigitte Bardot for the first time.
In a shallow view, "Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life" can be one more of these movies. Certainly the "A Heroic Life" helps. What is so "heroic" about his life? That he nailed BB, Jane Birkin among others? Maybe. That's something beyond reach of any mere mortal. He was a great poet and musician and produced amazing works of art. I am not sure if that is enough to qualify someone as "heroic".
The big difference between this movie and others from the genre is the approach of that inner Dionysian voice that is inside us all. Some of us totally ignore this voice, some dispute her balancing with other voices that are also inside us that control our reason and some of us obey that voice blindly. This movie is mostly about the relationship between Serge and that voice. There is one scene that Serge told the voice to go away and that he didn't need her anymore. He didn't need her because he just didn't need her or because he became the voice?
I found this an amazing movie. Well made, amazing acting and so on. And, yes. It was indeed a treat to be in the same room when Serge played his songs to Brigitte Bardot for the first time.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
I was not able to find this DVD for a long time in stores, even at Amoeba Records in Hollywood, which I thought carried everything! I love this movie!
Published 27 days ago by Julienne
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gainsbourg DVD
when the package arrived, the dvd was securely protected by a huge box. the dvd is brand new and it's perfect.
Published 1 month ago by Yeung Wing Yiu
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant, stylish, visual treat
I knew very little about Serge Gainsbourg but now I'd like to know more. I don't know if I'd agree that his life was "heroic" but Joann Sfar has made a masterful tribute to the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by R. Swanson
5.0 out of 5 stars
gainsbourg
it's about a young boy who became infamous singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. when he was in his childhood in Nazi-occupied Paris,as he romances many of the era's beautiful women.
Published 9 months ago by big guy
5.0 out of 5 stars
great
Very good movie about the singer's life with a little bit of fiction.
The subtitles are very good.
The DVD was new, so no problem.
Shipment was very fast.
The subtitles are very good.
The DVD was new, so no problem.
Shipment was very fast.
Published 10 months ago by crapsou
