Just as Marion Cotillard was to La Vie en Rose, Golden Globe-nominated actor Tahar Rahim is to MONSIEUR AZNAVOUR, transforming into the iconic singer-songwriter for this lavishly entertaining rise-to-stardom biography of the man who beat all odds to not only become one of France’s best-loved entertainers, but personified French culture to the English-speaking world.
Born in Paris in 1924 as the son of Armenian refugees, Aznavour’s formative years are spent in poverty, but distinguished by his parents’ passion for music and theatre. Ridiculed for his short stature and raspy tenor voice - traits he would in time fully embrace - Aznavour’s early attempts at a showbiz career during the Occupation falter. Whilst a gifted lyricist and storyteller, his material finds more success in the hands of others, including his friend Pierre (Bastien Bouillon), and later the imperious Edith Piaf (a scene-stealing Marie-Julie Baup), who becomes a highly influential mentor and supporter. But by the 1950s, Aznavour finally realises his own ambitions; his empathetic ‘chansons’ about the heartbreaks, confusions and passions of the common man (mining the dramas of his own life) catapult him to global attention.
Led by its star’s astonishing performance and stunning vocal prowess, Mehdi Idir and Grand Corps Malade’s emotional and lavishly-mounted MONSIEUR AZNAVOUR is a true tour de force as intimate as it is spectacular, serving as a triumphant reminder of the power and impact of music. It’s a grand and unmissable cinema experience.