So... as part of my four-day birthday bash... yeah I know-totally spoiled here... I went to see Coco before Chanel in LA at the Arclight. It's the theater shaped like the disneyland resort (like a moon descending into the atmosphere). It looked really kooky outside but the inside was marvelous, I hadn't been here since I was 6 and it was playing Toy Story. Now there is a floor for art exhibitions and a dull little cafe that served creme brulee & exotic cheeses.
The film was a total cream puff. As was Tautou who played Chanel, her character seemed enigmatic, strong yet fragile, her smiles were very far and few between during scenes, the only time you could catch a glimpse of that honest-toothed grin was when she was with her second consort. She grew up with a sister and the name Gabrielle, her father use to call her Coco-co-doodle since she would wake up earlier than everyone else kind of like a rooster. Hence, Coco became her nickname. Her mother died when her and her sister were 9, father abandoned them at orphanage. She and her sister never got adopted so they became seamstresses & cabaret singers. They soon got fired from their singing job and decided to try and marry wealthy barons. Didn't work out too well for either of them. She fell in love once, to an English baron who ended up marrying another English woman instead. He promised to see Chanel on the side every so often. Chanel agreed it was better to be a mistress and happy carefree, than a sad cheated on jilted wife of a man that doesn't love her back. The English baron financed her hat business, past away, making her sole-owner. Her being distraught from his death, focused only on her career-and started to create gowns and jackets. She made collections and died in 1977. un-wed. nonetheless, successful.
I feel her father abandoning her, gave her the mentality of what men really are, and to be estranged by them, scared even. She wanted to be independent- and she became a legacy. She built an empire with her bare hands. I don't like the camera pans or fade-outs during the film but I do love the demeanor of Tautou and her prideful disposition- frankly she never smiled. Her androgynous appeal made me feel more comfortable(as someone that does get mocked a lot for what I wear), it was comforting how gracefully she took each comment/insult. The scene where she stares into the sea, watching the boatmen collect fish, causing her to get inspiration for her boat neck striped shirt- that was amazing. Those moments when she stares down at feather ridden and embellishment laden individuals, and mocks them was pretty funny.
The last scene, when all the models are walking down the stairs in her garments, she sits at the stairs, watching and observing all that she has created and everyone clapping for her. That shot was pure gloriousness. I even cried. I can't imagine how it must feel to see your own designs on a runway. Thrilling. I die.
[Coco before Chanel was released in US theaters in LA&NY-Sep. 25th]
