Coco Before Chanel

Biopic of French fashion designer Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel from her humble upbringing to the height of the international fashion world and popular culture. The orphaned Gabrielle (Tautou) is working as a seamstress and cabaret singer when she meets millionaire roue Etienne Balsan (Poelvoorde), who makes her his mistress. Given the time, money, and opportunity, Chanel begins to experiment with simplifying the era's overly-fussy clothing and making herself both financially and sexually independent. Too much of the focus is wasted on a dull romance, giving little insight into Chanel's business savvy approach to becoming the icon of her day. Tautou's performance, unfortunately, takes a back seat to the extravagant fashions on parade. French with subtitles.