Coco Before Chanel
| Coco Before Chanel | |
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 French theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Anne Fontaine |
| Produced by |
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| Written by |
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| Based on | Chanel and Her World by Edmonde Charles-Roux |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Alexandre Desplat |
| Cinematography | Christophe Beaucarne |
| Edited by | Luc Barnier |
Production company |
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| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country |
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| Language |
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| Budget | $19.4 million |
| Box office | $50.8 million[1] |
Coco Before Chanel (French: Coco avant Chanel) is a 2009 biographical drama film directed and co-written by Anne Fontaine. The film stars Audrey Tautou and details the early life of French fashion designer Coco Chanel.
The film was first released in April 2009 in France. As of 21 December that year, it had grossed $43,832,376 worldwide.[1] The production budget was $23 million.[2]
Instead of releasing Coco Before Chanel in the United States itself, Warner Bros. Pictures let Sony Pictures Classics handle the release there.[3] The film grossed $6 million in the United States.[2][4]
Coco Before Chanel was nominated for four BAFTA Awards, three European Film Awards, six César Awards and the Academy Award for Best Costume Design.
Contents
Plot[edit]
Several years after leaving the orphanage where her father abandoned her, a young Gabrielle Chanel finds herself working in a provincial bar. She is both a seamstress for the performers and a singer, earning the nickname 'Coco' from the song she sings nightly with her sister. A liaison with the charismatic Baron Balsan (Belgian actor Benoît Poelvoorde) gives her an entry into French high society, and a chance to develop her gift for designing increasingly popular hats.
Coco falls in love with English businessman Arthur Capel (American Alessandro Nivola, who learnt French especially for the film), unaware that he is betrothed to a woman in England. Capel believes in Coco's talent making hats and her refusal to follow the whims of fashion; as he says to Coco, "There's no one else like you". As Coco's business flourishes and life is going well, Capel dies in a car accident; she is devastated. However, Coco still has the business that Capel helped her start as a reminder of their love.
Cast[edit]
- Audrey Tautou as Coco Chanel
- Benoît Poelvoorde as Étienne Balsan
- Alessandro Nivola as Arthur Capel
- Marie Gillain as Adrienne Chanel
- Emmanuelle Devos as Émilienne d'Alençon
Response[edit]
Roger Ebert praised the film for its unsentimental approach to Chanel's early years.[5] English critic Philip French found the film handsomely designed, tasteful, and reserved, but rather dull.[6] One hundred twenty-six critics on website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an average rating of 63%.[7] The film's average on Metacritic from reviewers was 65% as of 6 December 2012[update], with a 69% rating from general users of the website.
Accolades[edit]
Awards and nominations[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Coco Before Chanel (2009)". The Numbers. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
- ^ a b "Coco Before Chanel". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
- ^ Jaafar, Ali (17 April 2009). "Hollywood biz without borders". Variety.
- ^ Tobias, Scott (19 November 2004). "Foreign affairs". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 3, 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
- ^ "Coco Before Chanel". Chicago Sun Times.
- ^ French, Philip (2 August 2009). "Coco Before Chanel". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
- ^ "Coco Before Chanel (2009)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
- ^ "World Soundtrack Awards: Awards for 2009". IMDb. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "Awards - Film Composer of the Year: Awards archive - Film Composer of the Year: 2009". nationalboardofreview.org. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "European Film Awards 2009". europeanfilmawards.eu. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "St. Louis Film Critics: 2009 - St. Louis Film Critics' Awards". stlfilmcritics.org. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "15th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards (2010) – Best Picture: The Hurt Locker: Best Foreign Language Film". criticschoice.com. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "Etoiles d'Or de la Presse du Cinéma Français 2010 (édition n°11)" (in French). allocine.fr. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "Étoiles d'Or: Awards for 2010". IMDb. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA: Awards for 2010". IMDb. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "BAFTA Awards Search: 2010". bafta.org. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "Costume Designers Guild Awards: Awards for 2010". IMDb. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "Palmares 2010 - 35th Cesar Award Ceremony". academie-cinema.org. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "Oscars Ceremonies: The 82nd Academy Awards - 2010: Winners & Nominees - Costume Design". Oscars. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "Les Magritte du Cinema – Archives: 2011 - Les Nominés" (in French). lesmagritteducinema.com. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
External links[edit]
- Official website (in French)
- Coco Before Chanel on IMDb
- Coco Before Chanel at AllMovie
| Owners |   | |
|---|---|---|
| Designers | ||
| Garments | ||
| Perfumes | ||
| Perfumers | ||
| Other products | ||
| Promotional models | ||
| Films | ||
| Musical | ||
| Book | ||
- 2009 films
- 2009 in fashion
- 2000s biographical films
- 2000s drama films
- 2000s historical films
- Belgian biographical films
- Belgian drama films
- Belgian films
- Cultural depictions of Coco Chanel
- Drama films based on actual events
- Films about fashion designers
- Films based on biographies
- Films directed by Anne Fontaine
- Films scored by Alexandre Desplat
- Films set in the 1910s
- Films set in the 1920s
- Films set in the 1930s
- Films set in the 1940s
- Films set in the 1950s
- Films set in the 1960s
- Films shot in Paris
- French biographical films
- French drama films
- French films
- French historical films
- French-language films
