Edith Piaf, the legendary chanteuse whose life might be said to have combined the tragedy of Judy Garland with the celebrity of Elvis Presley, is the subject of this 1967 film, made for French television four years after her death. More an impressionistic portrait than a conventional documentary, Edith Piaf: A Passionate Life rarely offers precise details regarding Piaf's life, and many people prominently featured in the newsreel and television footage, not to mention interviewees, go unidentified (boxer Marcel Cerdan, the love of Edith's life, who died in a plane crash, appears early on, but only later is a newspaper montage on his death provided), and few dates are attached to any of the material. When it's observed that Piaf died on the same day as her friend Jean Cocteau, many Americans may not even recognize the author's name. As a result the film will hardly serve as an introduction for those who know nothing of Piaf. Those who cherish the "little sparrow," however, will embrace it as a memento of a unique artist, especially since it features vintage performances of many of her best-known songs, to which the DVD adds audio tracks of four others. Unfortunately, the audio and visual qualities are not terribly high; it's particularly irritating that the English narration is superimposed over the original French, which can still be heard like a subdued mutter in the background, creating an odd, echo-chamber effect (subtitles would surely have been preferable, and should also have been provided for the song lyrics). For devotees of Piaf this will still be mandatory viewing; otherwise, this is optional. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
Edith Piaf: A Passionate Life
(1967) 58 min. DVD: $14.95. Kultur. Color cover. ISBN: 0-7697-2825-1. Volume 19, Issue 6
Edith Piaf: A Passionate Life
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