Serge Gainsbourg was born Lucien Ginsburg (Kacey Mottet Klein) and grew up in Nazi occupied Paris. Lucien was smallish boy interested in art, especially graphic stories. He and his parents escape Jewish extradition but return after the war. Lucien, following his father's footsteps becomes a piano player in various nightclubs. His manager suggests the name change to Serge (more masculine) and a less identifying spelling of his surname.Now brilliantly played by Eric Elmosnino, Serge has a compelling charm that manages to seduce the most unlikely women. With some historical accuracy, Gainsbourg has numerous affairs including one with rising starlet Brigitte Bardot (a spot on Laetitia Casta). He suffers through a couple marriages before eventually marrying British model and actress Jane Birkin (Lucy Gordon). That union produced French singer and actress Charlotte Gainsbourg.
The film features a couple characters created in Serge's mind including an alter ego known as La Gueule (Doug Jones), a giant, exaggerated version of himself with huge ears and proboscis. Gainsbourg is clearly an interesting character and a train-wreck in the making. He gets caught up in his fame and fondness for the ladies, all fueled by excessive alcohol. The film features non-stop smoking by just about everybody in the movie including a gaggle of pre-teen boys and girls. Be forewarned if this is a problem. Director Joann Sfar adapted the screenplay from his graphic novel and he is clearly a big fan. The film is sometimes erotic, sometimes irreverent but always interesting. Like other filmmakers, Sfar has a hard time stopping as the movie clocks in at 2 hrs. 16 minutes. Recommended.
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