Édith et Marcel
| Édith et Marcel | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Claude Lelouch |
| Screenplay by |
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| Produced by | Tania Zazulinsky |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Jean Boffety |
| Edited by | Hugues Darmois |
| Music by | Francis Lai |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Parafrance Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 162 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
Édith et Marcel is a 1983 French biographical film directed by Claude Lelouch.[1] The film depicts the passionate romance between singer Édith Piaf and boxer Marcel Cerdan in the late 1940s.[1]
Plot
In 1947, the singer Édith Piaf and the boxer Marcel Cerdan are both at the peak of their respective careers. Their encounter gives birth to a passionate love affair lasting some two years, cut short by Cerdan's death in an air crash.[2] The film presents this historical romance alongside a parallel fictional love story between characters Jacques Barbier and Margot de Villedieu.[3]
Cast
- Évelyne Bouix as Édith Piaf / Margot de Villedieu[1]
- Marcel Cerdan Jr. as Marcel Cerdan
- Jacques Villeret as Jacques Barbier
- Francis Huster as Francis Roman
- Jean-Claude Brialy as Loulou Barrier
- Jean Bouise as Lucien Roupp
- Charles Gérard as Charlot
- Charlotte de Turckheim as Ginou Richet
- Micky Sebastian as Marinette Cerdan
- Maurice Garrel as Monsieur de Villedieu
- Ginette Garcin as Guite
- Philippe Khorsand as Jo Longman
- Jany Gastaldi as Momone
- Candice Patou as Josiane de Villedieu
- Tanya Lopert as Miss Davidson
- Charles Aznavour as himself
- Beata Tyszkiewicz as Madame de Villedieu
- Stéphane Ferrara
- Jean-Pierre Bacri as radio speaker (1939)
- Marc Berman
- Michel Aumont
Production
The film was originally conceived with Patrick Dewaere cast as Marcel Cerdan, but Dewaere died by suicide in July 1982 during pre-production.[4] Claude Lelouch then made the remarkable decision to cast Marcel Cerdan Jr., the boxer's actual son, to portray his father.[5] The film incorporates both original Piaf recordings and new compositions by Francis Lai.[5]
Reception
Édith et Marcel received mixed critical reviews. The film holds a 29% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on seven reviews.[6] Time Out praised Évelyne Bouix's dual performance but criticized the film's excessive length and sentimental approach.[5]
References
- ^ a b c "Édith et Marcel (Claude Lelouch, 1982)". Cinémathèque française (in French). Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ Schnabel, Tom (26 September 2017). "Marcel Cerdan & Édith Piaf: A Love Cut Short by Tragedy". KCRW. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Travers, James. "Édith et Marcel (1983) - Claude Lelouch - film review and synopsis". FrenchFilms.org. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ "Edith et Marcel". Unifrance. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ a b c T. J. "Edith and Marcel 1983, directed by Claude Lelouch". Time Out. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ "Edith and Marcel". Rotten Tomatoes.