Coco Before Chanel
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | April 6, 2009 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Biographical drama film |
Coco Before Chanel () is a 2009 biographical drama directed and co-written by Anne Fontaine. Featuring Audrey Tautou in the lead role, the movie delves into the formative years of the renowned French fashion icon Coco Chanel.
The film premiered in Paris on 6 April 2009, followed by its release in France and Belgium on 22 April 2009. Produced with a budget of $23 million, it earned $50.8 million globally, including $6 million from the US market. Rather than a direct distribution in the United States, Warner Bros. Pictures entrusted Sony Pictures Classics with the film’s American release.
Critics widely praised the film, which garnered nominations for four BAFTA Awards, three European Film Awards, six César Awards, as well as an Academy Award for Best Costume Design.
Plot
The narrative begins in 1893 with Gabrielle Chanel and her sister Adrienne being left at an orphanage in Aubazine. Their father departs for America after their mother’s death and never returns.
By 1908, Gabrielle supports herself as a seamstress and cabaret performer, singing alongside Adrienne a tune about a dog named "Coco," a nickname that sticks to Gabrielle. Both sisters attract affluent suitors: Adrienne becomes involved with a baron, while Gabrielle draws the attention of aristocrat Balsan. Although Adrienne lives as the baron’s companion, marriage is never part of their relationship.
Ambitious to rise above her circumstances, Gabrielle relocates to Balsan's countryside estate where she embarks on a romantic relationship with him but insists on preserving her independence. She takes up horseback riding there, which inspires her to design women’s trousers. Gabrielle also befriends actress Emilienne and begins crafting hats and garments that break away from corseted fashions, favoring simpler silhouettes and shorter hemlines.
Through Balsan, Gabrielle meets English entrepreneur Arthur Capel, who courts her during a visit to Normandy. When Balsan proposes marriage to regain her favor, she declines. In response, Balsan reveals Capel's engagement to another woman. Despite this revelation, Gabrielle continues her relationship with Capel without expecting marriage, firmly stating she will not wed.
Capel champions Coco’s creative talents in millinery and fashion design, supporting her vision of modern women’s emancipation and self-expression. Upon discovering that bank loans for her Paris business rely on Capel’s guarantees, Coco demands control over her finances to achieve genuine independence. Following Capel’s untimely death in a car crash, she is heartbroken but determined to push forward with her career and aesthetic innovations.
The story concludes with Coco dressed in one of her iconic tailleurs, observing models presenting her evolving creations—signifying the beginning of her ascent within the fashion world as portrayed in "Coco avant Chanel."
Cast
- Audrey Tautou as Coco Chanel
- Benoît Poelvoorde as Étienne Balsan
- Alessandro Nivola as Arthur Capel
- Marie Gillain as Adrienne Chanel
- Emmanuelle Devos as Émilienne d'Alençon
- Émilie Gavois-Kahn as The alternate seamstress
Critical response
Roger Ebert commended the film for its realistic and unsentimental depiction of Chanel’s early life. English critic Philip French considered it elegantly crafted and tasteful, though somewhat lacking in excitement.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Coco Before Chanel holds a 64% approval rating based on 136 reviews, averaging 6/10. The consensus describes it as an engaging and beautiful homage that falls short of fully capturing Chanel’s complexity. Meanwhile, Metacritic assigned a score of 65/100, reflecting generally favorable critiques.
Accolades
| Ceremony Date | Award Title | Category | Nominees/Recipients | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 October 2009 | World Soundtrack Awards | Film Composer of the Year | Alexandre Desplat | Template:Won |
| 12 December 2009 | European Film Awards | Prix d'Excellence | Catherine Leterrier (costume design) | Template:Nom |
| Best Composer | Alexandre Desplat | Template:Nom | ||
| People's Choice Award for Best European Film | Coco Before Chanel | Template:Nom | ||
| 21 December 2009 | St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | Coco Before Chanel | Template:Nom |
| 15 January 2010 | Critics' Choice Movie Award | Best Foreign Language Film | Coco Before Chanel | Template:Nom |
| 15 February 2010 | Étoiles D'or du Cinéma Français | Best Film Composer | Alexandre Desplat | Template:Won |
| 20 February 2010 | Golden Reel Awards | Best Sound Editing in a Feature Foreign Language Film | Jean-Claude Laureux et al. | Template:Nom |
| 21 February 2010 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Film Not in the English Language | Coco Before Chanel | Template:Nom |
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Audrey Tautou | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Costume Design | Catherine Leterrier | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Makeup and Hair | Thanh Tu Nguyen et al. | Template:Nom | ||
| 25 February 2010 | Costume Designers Guild Awards | Excellence in Period Film | Catherine Leterrier | Template:Nom |
| 27 February 2010 | César Awards | Best Actress | Audrey Tautou | Template:Nom |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Benoît Poelvoorde | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Adaptation | Anne Fontaine and Camille Fontaine | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Cinematography | Christophe Beaucarne | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Costumes | Catherine Leterrier | Template:Won | ||
| Best Set Design | Olivier Radot | Template:Nom | ||
| 7 March 2010 | Academy Awards | Best Costume Design | Catherine Leterrier | Template:Nom |
| 5 February 2011 | Magritte Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Benoît Poelvoorde | Template:Nom |