Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life

Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life traces the life of French singer and songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, beginning with his childhood as a Jewish boy in German-occupied Paris in the 1940s. It follows his early ambitions as a painter, his turn toward songwriting and the success he found in the 1960s, and the public provocations and turbulent romances that made him a well-known figure in French culture. The film blends straightforward biography with fantastical elements, including an imaginary companion who shadows Gainsbourg through his life.

The film was directed by Joann Sfar, who also wrote the screenplay. It was his first feature, followed years later by Little Vampire. Eric Elmosnino plays Gainsbourg, with Lucy Gordon as Jane Birkin, Laetitia Casta as Brigitte Bardot, Anna Mouglalis as Juliette Greco and Mylène Jampanoï as Bambou.

Released in 2010 and running 130 minutes, the film drew a mixed critical response, with a critics' rating of 6.2 out of 10 on IMDb from 82 reviews, while audiences were somewhat warmer, giving it 6.9 out of 10 on TMDB from 360 votes.