The Film
Bold actions from an often demure lead characterize Coco Before Chanel on Blu-ray. Left in an orphanage by her father at an early age, Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel (Audrey Tautou), aims for greatness. With training as a seamstress, she begins her young adult life as a cabaret singer-- where she earned the nickname Coco -- and insinuates herself into the French social scene of the early 1900s through her relationship with Baron Etienne Balsan (Benoit Peolvoorde). It's in this social scene where Coco develops her millinery skills, first as a hobby, then professionally where she debuts her wares in a Paris shop funded by her British love interest Arthur "Boy" Capel.
The story takes liberties with Coco's early life. It portrays Coco's hot and cold personality, and her rocky relationship with the Baron. It may not do enough to show the obstacles she faced both growing up and in her attempts to establish herself as the woman we picture as Coco Chanel.
To hear more about the harsh turns in Coco's early years, check out the review of the theatrical release of Coco Before Chanel.
The Picture
Hazy images depict turn of the century France, taking on the look of the early 1900s in this 2.35:1 1080p high definition picture. The countryside castle where Coco lives with the playboy Baron for a time takes on a refined, yet soft presentation reminiscent of the era in which the film is set. While the emphasis is more on the people than the clothes, this high definition presentation is still like a time traveling fashion show.
A dialog driven film in a foreign language, Coco Before Chanel doesn't need much beyond directional support for sound. The 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack hits the right notes. In scenes where the party gets wild, or Coco performs in a noisy cabaret, dialog and incidental noise is appropriately placed throughout the room.
The Extras
A woman of legend deserves treatment in the form of special features. On this Blu-ray she gets a few. "The Making of Coco Before Chanel" is a seven-part documentary that focuses on aspects of the film's production including casting, costuming, and recreating the era. This is supplemented with "Coco Before Chanel 'La Rencontre' (The Meeting) and "Walking the Red Carpet: From Los Angeles to New York." Both go into the legend of Chanel, and red carpet footage from the bi-coastal U.S. film premier.
Final Thoughts
Coco Before Chanel tells of Coco's life from a young adult just out of the orphanage to the establishment of her career. It doesn't show much of her professional life, but the story of how she got there. Coco was the one to cast off corsets and adopt a more "menswear" style. The film shows the evolution of how that happened for her both personally and professionally and the Blu-ray's HD picture and sound make it a journey well worth watching.
Product Details
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