Gueule d'ange

I will be honest,I first hesitated before going to see this movie, the critics were not so good. This beautiful story tells the struggle for a little girl to survive, despite a very light hearted and minded mom, played here by Marion Cotillard, whose character can hardly purchase audiences empathy; but pity instead. But I want to insist on the fact that Cotillard is damn good here, BUT NOT HER CHARACTER. So don't confound please. I also loved the scheme between the litte girl and the lonesome diver, what a moving and so unusual friendship, as the one you also had in MOONFLEET and an NAKED CITY series episode I watched yesterday starring Robert Duvall; THE ONE MARKED HOT GIVES GOLD.

The story line is totally depressing and this is driven home by the excellent acting of Cotillard. It was so real in fact I wasn't sure I could watch past the first half of the movie. Others have complained that this couldn't have happened because surely someone would have reported the abandonment to the police. I disagree, as the whole thing takes place over just a few days and the mother and daughter have little to no safety net. Fortunately, the tension was somewhat relieved by the character of the carnival barker/ex-high diver Julio. The scene on the cliff top presaged the ending, which though predictable remained nevertheless moving. Somewhat disappointing to me was that nothing in the mother's despicable behavior was resolved. This is real life not Hollywood.

I will watch any film starring Marion Cotillard. She's magnificent. I liked this rather slow movie. It was beautifully shot. Marion is such a skilled actress, as was the little girl playing her daughter.