When it comes to biopics, it’s always interesting to know how much of what we see on the screen is actually true. Coco Before Chanel, a 2009 film directed by Anne Fontaine and starring Audrey Tautou, tells the story of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel before she became a fashion icon.
But how accurate is the movie? Let’s take a closer look.
The Plot of Coco Before Chanel
The film follows Coco Chanel’s early life in France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We see her as a young girl growing up in an orphanage with her sister, where she learns to sew and develops a passion for fashion.
As an adult, she becomes a cabaret singer and meets two wealthy men who become her patrons. She begins designing hats for them and eventually opens her own boutique.
How Accurate Is the Movie?
While Coco Before Chanel takes some creative liberties with the real-life story of Coco Chanel, it does stay true to some key aspects of her life.
One major aspect that the movie accurately portrays is Chanel’s upbringing in an orphanage. Her mother passed away when she was young, and her father abandoned her and her sister at the orphanage. This experience had a profound impact on Chanel’s life and influenced much of her later work.
The movie also accurately portrays Chanel’s relationship with Etienne Balsan, one of her wealthy patrons who helped launch her career in fashion. However, the film takes some liberties with their relationship; in real life, Balsan was already married when he met Chanel.
Another significant character portrayed in Coco Before Chanel is Arthur “Boy” Capel, another wealthy patron who becomes one of Chanel’s lovers. While Capel did play an important role in launching Chanel’s career and inspiring some of her designs (such as the famous “Chanel No. 5” perfume), the movie exaggerates their relationship and portrays them as being much more involved than they actually were.
The Bottom Line
Overall, while Coco Before Chanel takes some liberties with the real-life story of Coco Chanel, it does stay true to some key aspects of her life. The movie accurately portrays her upbringing in an orphanage and her relationships with wealthy patrons who helped launch her career in fashion. However, it does exaggerate some aspects of these relationships for dramatic effect.
If you’re interested in learning more about the real-life story of Coco Chanel, there are plenty of books and documentaries available that offer a more accurate portrayal of her life and career. But if you’re looking for an entertaining biopic that captures the spirit of one of fashion’s most iconic figures, Coco Before Chanel is definitely worth a watch.
- Key Takeaways:
- While Coco Before Chanel takes some creative liberties with the real-life story of Coco Chanel, it does stay true to some key aspects of her life.
- The movie accurately portrays Chanel’s upbringing in an orphanage and her relationships with wealthy patrons who helped launch her career in fashion.
- However, it does exaggerate some aspects of these relationships for dramatic effect.