Gainsbourg

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Gainsbourg

Released Aug 31, 2011

2h 10m

Biography

Drama

Music

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73%

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82 Reviews

68%

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10,000+ Ratings

The life of French singer Serge Gainsbourg.

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Critics Consensus

It might be thinly written and messily made, but Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life is also appropriately glamorous and intense -- and powerfully led by a gripping performance from Erik Elmosnino.

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Ginette Vincendeau

Sight & Sound

In conjoining Jewish heritage and classic French chanson, Gainsbourg celebrates the hybridity of contemporary French culture, while its combination of realist narrative and poetic animation make it both a touching biopic and an inspired musical.

Jun 18, 2012

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Joe Williams

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

It's a comic-strip version of one man's life and times, but it's tres cool.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 9, 2011

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Trevor Johnston

Time Out

While the movie's on a roll, it's zesty, engaging and frisky.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 16, 2011

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Andrea Hubert

NME (New Musical Express)

Gainsbourg is often just the right side of uncomfortably intimate, but that's what makes it such a magnetic film.

Rated: 4/5

May 19, 2021

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Kelly Jane Torrance

Washington Examiner

It's as surprising and unconventional as the man himself -- but that doesn't mean it serves him well.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 5, 2019

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Kaleem Aftab

The List

Great songs, beautiful girls, lovely costumes and an artist in a constant state of flux are emphasised in Joann Sfar's imaginative, beautiful and suitably bizarre musing on the life of Serge Gainsbourg.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 6, 2018

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Anderson O

Erik puts on a Masterclass performance as Serge Gainbourgs in this comicbook adaptation based on his life story. Pretty bold and in your face, a different type of biography. Messy at times, but gets goals accomplished very well. Delves deep into the psychology of what genius intellectuals see around them and how their imaginations run.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/23/23

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Audience Member

Most informative to those who do not know Gainsbourg well; strong performances by the leads and support

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Audience Member

For a film that's supposed to be mostly about music, the rhythm and editing are particularly bad, 95% of the songs will start and after 25 seconds or so they end abruptly. Visually interesting but ultimately this is a film about nothing, and this is coming from someone who loves Gainsbourg's music. However; Éric Elmosnino as the title character and Doug Jones as 'La Gueule' (Gainsbourg's mug) are both superb!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

A must see! 30 years of the most creative French artist of this part of history

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/23/17

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Audience Member

I LOVE Gainsbourg and bought many of his CDs in vinyl in my youth. However, this movie makes me hate him. So disappointed to see him like this. Gross.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

60s paris in a poetic & surrealistic way.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Joann Sfar

Director

Eric Elmosnino

Serge Gainsbourg

Lucy Gordon

Jane Birkin

Laetitia Casta

Brigitte Bardot

Doug Jones

La Gueule

Anna Mouglalis

Juliette Gréco

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Critics Consensus: The Debt is Certified Fresh

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Synopsis

The life of French singer Serge Gainsbourg.

Director: Joann Sfar
Producer: Marc du Pontavice, Didier Lupfer
Screenwriter: Joann Sfar
Distributor: Music Box Films
Production Co: Xilam Animation, France 2 Cinéma, One World Films, Focus Features International, Studio 37, Lilou Films
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 31, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $230.3K
Runtime: 2h 10m

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