| COCO AVANT CHANEL |
| Written by Olive Ann Walden |
| Sunday, 19 July 2009 10:49 |
 We all long for the quilted Chanel bag, the Chanel black dress, that classic Chanel piece of Written and directed by Anne Fontaine, 'Coco avant Chanel' is an intimate memoir of the life of one of fashions greatest: Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel (Audrey Tautou). It spans her troubled childhood; her induction into an orphanage as a young girl, her years working as a seamstress, and concludes with the vivacious establishment of her empire. Her lovers, her enablers, her ‘one true love’, are ceremoniously revealed as we get to know the real Coco... behind Chanel.  To survive in a society that stigmatised poverty and orphan-hood, Coco romanced millionaire Etienne Balsan (Benoit Poelvoorde). Attending his lavish parties, she became a fixture of simple taste. While other guests flaunted their jewels and extravagance, Coco wore comfortable dresses and man-ish attire. It was in this company that she began making hats for acquaintances, as a hobby. As demand for her hats increased, she realised that such endeavours could give her the independence she desperately sought. First hats, then clothes, accessories, perfume... Coco designed an empire that continues to flourish today. Her attention to comfort and simplicity, while preserving elegance, set Chanel apart. Coco was a woman working in a man’s world; likewise, the simple sophistication of Chanel stood out amidst other fashion houses that were creating exaggerated and over-embellished clothing. Coco Chanel made ‘comfortable’ and sophisticated, ‘black and white’; the staple elegant hues... Also, conquering adversity to achieve great success.  'Coco avant Chanel' is a simple and elegant film, possessing the qualities of Coco herself. The eloquent cinematography heightened the emotions of the film. The sets were stunning. The clothes: beautiful and timeless. The dialogue: raw and witty. The acting: emotive and real. Nothing was over-done, over-acted, over-decorated; it was perfection. Audrey Tautou is one of my favourite actresses. She is French, stunningly beautiful, effortlessly chic... and very, very talented. After 'Amelie' the world fell in love with her, and this film serves to intensify the infatuation. She portrays Coco as a strong, independent woman, but one wrought with insecurities and fears. Tautou’s piercing black eyes enhance the mystery that was Coco Chanel.  I walked into the cinema not knowing a single thing about Coco Chanel’s early life. I walked out, feeling as though I understood her. She had a tough exterior, internalising her fears and emotion. She was extremely strong-willed, but knew when she needed to compromise her integrity in order to survive. Coco Chanel’s intriguing background was delicately handled by Anne Fontaine; care was taken to ensure Coco was like-able... albeit flawed, to ensure the audience sympathised but did not pity her, to ensure she was resilient but not perfect. Coco Chanel was black on white, with crimson lips. Simple, elegant, timeless. Chanel. Coco; before Chanel, was a lost woman trying to make it through life, who understood the brilliance of understated sophistication. 'Coco avant Chanel' is a film worth watching if you appreciate good movies, beautiful clothes, or both; together.  |
