Coco Avant Chanel. An inspiring life story of a true fashion icon. You will leave the cinema wanting to cut up the first piece of material you see. The acting is amazing. The story is beautiful. Coco is beautiful. Audrey Tautou is perfect as Coco. She holds herself with the eloquence and style becoming of an icon. She smiles with the sparkle of unconventional passion. She portrays the determination of an orphan who went on to become greater than many women of her time. A time when it was not acceptable for women to work. Coco Chanel wanted to work. She wanted to break the mold. Anne Fontaine does not canonize Coco. We see her in good times and bad. We see what she did to make it in a mans world. But she made it. And when she made it, she worked every day until her death in 1971. Creating a style never since challenged. In the words of Coco Chanel “Fashion passes. Style Remains”. There are tales of love tangled throughout. Coco has obscure relationships with most people in her life, family, friends and lovers. She is aloof and ambiguous. She is intriguing and captivating.
It’s a wonderful tale of an inspiring woman. Coco Chanel led an extraordinary life. She went against tradition. She not only loosened her corset, she took it off. She wore comfortable, flowing, feminine clothes. She wore trousers. She wore style. Don’t worry about the subtitles, you’ll forget you’re reading them after a while. And if you speak a little French all the better. You’d be surprised at how much you’ll understand. Unfortunately Coco Avant Chanel is not showing in Meath cinemas so you’ll have to make the trip into Dublin to catch it. Definitely worth the trip.
I went to see this in The Lighthouse cinema in Smithfield. I can’t recommend this cinema enough. I wish it was on my doorstep. Although for a show after 7pm the traffic is minimal and there is plenty of free parking around. Makes for a good night out. It’s incredibly ‘cool’, skinny jeans and pointy shoes in every direction. Young and old. Hippies and hipsters. Minimal decor, old fashioned popcorn boxes. Cute European staff members. Seats that literally hug you for the duration of the film. Indeed, proper order.
Trailer:
