Tres Chic - Coco before Chanel

Spinetinglers Rating - Five Stars

 

Coco before Chanel, is quite simply divine, the cinematography is exquisite, the performances are charming, and the costumes are worthy of the Chanel brand.

Abandoned by her father, Gabriel (Coco) Chanel, grows up in a catholic orphanage. She despairs at the world around her and wants something better for herself. At first she tries in vain to become a singer, however when she begins to design hats for the friends of her aristocratic keeper. This is when she develops her real talent. Along the way she uses men to better her situation but she soon falls in love herself and as her career begins her love life becomes all the more complicated and tragic.

This is not our usual genre of film to review, but Spinetinglers wants to prove to the world that we can be eclectic too! And can even recommend and enjoy films that do not have maniacs running around hacking up young virgins.

I have to admit mushy/gushy romances are not our thing, in fact as soon as we hear the words staring Mathew McConaughey, we at Spinetinglers automatically change the chanel. With saying this, ever since Face/off and Amelie we never dismiss Alessandro Nivola or Audrey Tautou. Let’s just block the Da Vinci Code and The Eye from our memories for the moment and concentrate on the movie at hand.

Coco before Chanel, as the title suggests is the story of Coco Chanel’s humble beginnings and the early romances which would have a profound effect on her later career. Coco is portrayed by Audrey Tautou, as a passionate sharp witted young women, an outsider, driven by ambition and striving for excellence. She is not afraid to use whatever opportunity comes her way to pursue her dreams and does at times do this quite ruthlessly. The movie is essentially a love story but it is a love story with a difference as it portrays love as actually is. Desperate, sad, pitiful, humiliating, hurtful and people who experience a great passion are far from often made happy by it. God that is a depressing thought!

Coco before Chanel, is beautifully made and all about classic style. Every scene from the nuns, (I never knew nuns could look so chic!) in the orphanage to the climatic image of Coco sitting on the stairs in her iconic Chanel Suit are a great advertisement for her work as a designer. So the Chanel fans will be more than happy with the way the film looks.

My only one criticism is that it does perpetuate the myth, that successful women cannot have a happy fulfilling love life. This is an oppressive idea put about by men who want to be able rein the little woman in.... I hope!?!

The cynics will say that like the fashion world the movie looks good but lacks any real substance. However, we at Spinetinglers believe that these people have missed the director, Anne Fontaine’s, intention, to create a film that is subtle and elegant just like Coco herself. A less is more kinda deal!

Coco before Chanel is as sublimely elegant as Coco after Chanel. Spinetinglers would recommend this film to anyone who believes that “fashion fades only style remains”.

 

 

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