Let me preface my review by saying that before seeing this movie (aka: La Môme), I knew absolutely nothing about Edith Piaf or her music. I hadn't seen a single PBS biography of her, hadn't consciously listened to her songs/albums, hadn't read anything in print or on the net -- I was a complete Piaf-virgin.

The movie itself is big time melodrama, which I'm a sucker for already -- and here they go all out, recreating various historical settings in their full cinematographic retro glory. Then, Marion Cotillard, the actress who plays Edith Piaf goes right over the top to fashion a performance which unexpectedly seems a more realistic portrayal of the extreme life of her subject. She was outstanding.

This is a life story seemingly made for the big screen, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to see it in the theatre,

5 out of 5.