Taking the best from La Vie En Rose and Amelie, renowned comic book artist Joann Sfar’s Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life is a completely original take on one of France’s greatest mavericks, the illustrious and infamous Jewish singer-songwriter, Serge Gainsbourg (Eric Elmosnino).

Born Lucien Ginsburg to Russian-Jewish parents, Sfar follows him from his precocious childhood in Nazi-occupied Paris, to his beginnings as small time jazz musician and, finally, pop superstar. Along the way he romances many of the era’s most beautiful women, including Juliette Greco (Anna Mouglalis), Brigitte Bardot (Laetitia Casta) and Jane Birkin (Lucy Gordon). Employing a witty, surrealistic style and a soundtrack that includes many of the musician’s greatest hits, Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life is a quintessential time capsule from 1960s Paris.

Winner! César Awards 2011 - Best Actor (Eric Elmosnino), Best First Film (Joann Sfar), Best Sound
Winner! Étoile D'or 2011 - Best Actor, Eric Elmosnino
Winner! Étoile D'or 2011 - Best Male Newcomer, Eric Elmosnino
Winner! Tribeca Film Festival 2010 - Best Actor, Narrative Feature (Eric Elmosnino)
Winner! Sacramento French Film Festival 2011 - Audience Award

Written and Directed by Joann Sfar
France, 2011
Drama, Biography
French (with English subtitles)
122 minutes