France/UK/Czech Republic (2007): Biography/Drama/Music

Perhaps finding her nearest American analogues in figures such as Judy Garland and Billie Holiday, the tragic story of Edith Piaf (Marion Cotillard) takes her from the mean streets of the Belleville district of Paris to the dazzling limelight of New York's most famous concert halls. Piaf's life was a constant battle to sing and survive, to live and love. Born into abject poverty, surrounded by street performers, hookers, and pimps, Piaf's magical voice made her a star on both sides of the Atlantic.

Raised in her grandmother's brothel, Piaf was discovered in 1935 by nightclub owner Louis Leplée (Gérard Depardieu), who persuaded her to sing desite her extreme nervousness. This, combined with he diminutive height (4'8"), inspired Leplée to give the singer the nickname that would stay with her for the rest of her life, La Môme Piaf ("The Little Sparrow").

Piaf's passionate romances and friendships with some of the greatest names of the time -- Charlie Chaplin, Jean Cocteau, Yves Montand and Marlene Dietrich (Caroline Sihol), who famously remarked that Piaf's voice is "the soul of Paris" -- made her a household name as much as her unforgettable renditions of the songs she made famous.

But in her audacious attempt to tame her tragic destiny, the Little Sparrow flew so high that she could not fail to burn her wings. The great love of Piaf's life, middleweight boxing champion Marcel Cerdan (Jean-Pierre Martins), died in a plane crash in 1949. Piaf developed a serious morphine addiction following a car accident in 1951, and eventually succombed to cancer in 1963, dying at the untimely age of forty-seven. Piaf remains, however, one of France's immortal icons, her voice one of the indelible signatures of the 20^th Century.

Edith Piaf's singing voice performed by Jil Aigrot. Written for the screen by Olivier Dahan and Isabelle Sobelman; directed by Olivier Dahan; produced by Alain Goldman, co-produced by Timothy Burrill, Marc Jenny and Oldrich Mach. (Distributed in the US by Picturehouse Entertainment - Web site)

   · Best Leading Actress 2007: Marion Cotilliard
   · Best Achievement in Makeup 2007: Didier Lavergne & Jan Archibald

   · Achievement in Costume Design 2007: Marit Allen

3 nominations, 2 Awards