Coco Before Chanel
I’m not sure if I liked the movie. There is not all that much to say about it, and to be honest, most of the story is absolutely forgetful. It’s a very, very typical biography in which you don’t really know if it’s supposed to be a love story or not, with the intent of depicting a real person’s life, all the while knowing that this depiction is disgustingly unfaithful to the true Coco Chanel.
So perhaps my biggest annoyance with the film is indeed how un-truthful it is to Coco Chanel – that she is not that ‘cool’ of a woman; that her views of life are perhaps not exactly how she is described in this film, considering that she has had love affairs throughout her life, and used her connections extensively. She had a great style, but I really am not sure whether she is more influential because of her style but more because she knew all those people. We used to look down on women who sleep through the world to get what they want, but it seems like there is the Napoleon effect here: If you made it big, suddenly you have to be viewed as revolutionary woman who is ambitious instead of slutty.
At any rate though, I am very in love with the Coco in the film. She is a lovely young lady and even if I don’t quite always agree with her treatment of the poor baron, she puts on an attitude which I adore very much. Everybody wants to be somebody, especially when you are proud and talented, and I think it is portrayed in a lovely way here.
Ultimately I don’t recommend this film to anybody else, considering that I watched it for three reasons: a) Audrey Tautou, b) Anne Fontaine, c) the clothing style of Mademoiselle Chanel. Apart from that, there really is absolutely no reason. I wonder when they will make a movie on Vivienne Westwood – women in fashion are indeed so much more fascinating. Why is it that we have to let men dictate what we wear, after all?