Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life

Name: Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Released: August 31, 2011
Duration: 130 min
Rating: 58

2011

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Mixed or average reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Music Box Films | Release Date: August 31, 2011 | Not Rated

Summary: 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. 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 andGainsbourg: A Heroic Life is a completely original take on one of France’s greatest mavericks, the illustrious and infamous Jewish singer-songwriter, Serge Gainsbourg. 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, Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin. 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. (Music Box Films)… Expand

Director: Joann Sfar

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Music

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 130 min

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Critic Reviews

Kenneth Turan

Sep 1, 2011

Unconventional, imaginative, nothing if not audacious, Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life is a portrait of creativity from the inside, a serious yet playful attempt to find an artistic way to tell an emotional truth. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Oct 26, 2011

The movie unreels his musical biography with an unending series of tastes of songs and performances. You may be surprised by how many you recognize. Read full review

Jordan Mintzer

Aug 28, 2011

Both evocative and faithful in its depiction of the famed French singer's lascivious life, "Gainsbourg (vie heroique)" offers up a feast of memorable chansons and an almost endless parade of drop-dead-gorgeous muses. Read full review

Empire Andrew Male

Aug 28, 2011

Eric Elmosnino is terrific as the louche French icon in Joann Sfar's vivid biopic. Shame about that second hour. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Sep 2, 2011

What the movie lacks in depth it makes up for in surreal humor, and - just as he should - Gainsbourg look-alike Elmosnino seduces us effortlessly. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Nov 3, 2011

An excellently cast biopic about yet another self-destructive genius who burnt out but will never fade away – at least not in France, or wherever cigarettes, alcohol, and sex are still allowed. Read full review

Alison Willmore

Aug 30, 2011

Despite the attention the film pays to the divide between the man as the ungainly, loving second-gen immigrant versus the boozy provocateur, it's not a portrait of much psychological depth. Read full review

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User Reviews

Lyn

Jun 6, 2014

An extra point for the storytelling in this film, which is consistently entertaining and inventive. In Gainsbourg's day -- before the briefest little tweet could conjure up a big, ridiculous controversy -- you had to work harder to stir things up. The film shows how he did that, whileAn extra point for the storytelling in this film, which is consistently entertaining and inventive. In Gainsbourg's day -- before the briefest little tweet could conjure up a big, ridiculous controversy -- you had to work harder to stir things up. The film shows how he did that, while dealing with his own demons and insecurities. I've always been particularly interested in thinking about Gainsbourg in relation to his daughter Charlotte. She (alas?) looks more like him than her gorgeous mother, but also has his phenomenal ability for shape-shifting, with her serious, terrific talent. This was an interesting look at a her father as a self-made pop culture phenomenon.… Expand

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MarcDoyle

Sep 5, 2011

I had moderately high expectations for this film after seeing the very stylish & cool trailer. However, Serge was just enough of a jerk, and his alter ego puppet was just annoying enough that the effects of the music and historical context were drowned out. Yes, Eric Elmosnino does aI had moderately high expectations for this film after seeing the very stylish & cool trailer. However, Serge was just enough of a jerk, and his alter ego puppet was just annoying enough that the effects of the music and historical context were drowned out. Yes, Eric Elmosnino does a serviceable job as Serge, and Laetitia Casta is outstanding as Bridget Bardot. But it touches too many themes without fully penetrating the lead character's psychology and motivations. Tough to root for the guy. A couple of people in my (packed) theater gave it a round of applause, but the rest of the the group was silent.… Expand

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