On Feb. 2, Longwood University hosted "Coco Avant Chanel," for the annual French Film Festival that has become an annual tradition for Lancers.
In the French Countryside, a young girl approaches an orphanage via wagon. It is the 1890's, and the girl in the wagon is a very young Coco Chanel, then known by her birth name Gabrielle Bonheur. With her sister, Adrienne, she eventually leaves the orphanage.
As an adult, she works days in a clothing store and at night sings with Adrienne in a bar. It is here that her life begins to turn in circles. She meets the wealthy textile heir Blason, and while living with him, gets a taste of upper-crust life and slowly comes to realize her talent and drive as a clothing designer. During this period, in which she becomes ‘Coco,' Chanel meets her love interest the English Businessman ‘Boy' Capel, who handles her banking affairs until his untimely death.
Charged with life and silk-thin beauty, "Coco avant Chanel" is a film that was on last year's Features list and this year's Alternates list for Longwood University's French Film Festival. The Festival, supported by a Tournées Grant from the French Embassy, was rounded out by the film and includes other genres, such as an animated film and a comedy.
Viewer Colleen Gleeson had a few things to say about the film, stating that she would give it "high marks." She went on to say that "from a woman's perspective, [the film] was interesting historically, and from a clothing perspective, it was very sensual."
She had much praise to give to the film's lead, Audery Toutou, whose face she said was very expressive on its own, even with all the movie's tensions.
Commenting on Chanel's relationships, Gleason said, "I think her childhood kind of [defined] her life. In the years before therapy, she was able to work out her [personal issues] and her independence was probably the weight around her neck … She probably always wanted something like we all do." When asked what she got from the film, Colleen said to "go home and sew."
Wade Edwards, the festival's moderator, also had a few things to say about the film. Edwards cited that the audience was half student and half community, while stating that the film was a "biography in a way [which] I think [is] a pretty true film. I was looking for something that was accessible for American audiences."
He also stated that for him, "It was just fun to experience [what] was France. The scenery was just beautiful. The lead actress, Audrey Toutou, is sort of the main French actress right now. She's in everything good."
With an enjoyable evening completed, the French Film Festival starts off and hopes to garner more viewer attention from those who might find it both elegant, lighthearted and representing an exchange of art.
