User reviews

This is good, romantic movie; what they used to call a "woman's picture" back in the 40's...it's like reading a good romance novel and really takes you out of yourself while you're watching it. Yeah, sure, the movie's facts aren't strictly true to the real life facts about Coco Chanel; sometimes the plot has holes bigger than Swiss cheese, AND Timothy Dalton is a bit woody in my opinion, but I dare you not to have a tear in your eye at the (bitter) end. Marie-France Pisier never looked prettier & her performance is top-notch, and oh yeah, Rutger Hauer never looked prettier either. I personally think his performance here as the charmer who initially seduces Coco is one of his best; certainly he's very warm & playful -- not a psycho or weirdo for once.

This is one of my all time favorite movies. It is about the life and loves of an amazing woman-Coco Chanel- who rose from the bottom with no family or financial support and became one of the most legendary of all our creative icons. It is a very romantic story, sad and full of longing and yet very satisfying. I've seen it many times; I should probably buy it. Also, the music is perfectly paired with the emotional tone of intense longing and loneliness. I loved it. If you enjoy period pieces, as I do, and are a romantic, you will probably love this film. This is one of the first English films made with Rutgar Hauer and, in my opinion, he has never been better. His career really went downhill after this was made. He should've stayed with small, independent, thoughtful films like Chanel Solitaire.

This is Hauer's first 100% English language film, following "Wilby" and "Soldier of Orange", so viewers are spared the generally atrocious dubbing. And what screen time Hauer has, mostly during the first half is amiable. Unfortunately, once Hauer's character walks the doldrums set in pretty quick. Although easily mistaken as a romance, it is a tale about loneliness. Chanel just made the wrong decision when it came to Dalton and Hauer.