Director: Joann Sfar, France, 122 min (CMJ Premiere)
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 singer-songwriter, Serge Gainsbourg (Eric Elmosnino). Born Lucien Ginsburg to Russian-Jewish parents, Gainsbourg evolves from a precocious child in Nazi-occupied Paris, to a small-time jazz musician, and finally, an international 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). With a witty surrealistic style and a soundtrack showcasing many of Gainsbourg’s greatest hits, the film is a sensual delight and a quintessential time capsule of the eras he enjoyed.