Gainsbourg

France, United States 2010, 122 mins
Director: Joann Sfar
Starring: Doug Jones, Laetitia Casta, Lucy Gordon, Eric Elmosnino

Synopsis Picturehouse Recommends

While so many biopics can be criticised for idolising their subject, GAINSBOURG stands up as a frank look at the life of an enigmatic musician whose legacy is second only to his legend.

Based on director Sfar's graphic novel of the same name, the film offers an introspective glimpse into the world of French singer Serge Gainsbourg, from his tough childhood growing up in Nazi-occupied Paris to his death in 1991, via his troubled yet hugely successful time as a songwriter in the 1960s.

Eric Elmosnino (THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN) is uncanny as the eponymous artiste, while Sfar's elegant direction makes this a poetic homage that will thrill Gainsbourg disciples and the uninitiated alike.