Gainsbourg

Release date: 30 July 2010

Running time: 135 mins

Director: Joann Sfar

Starring: Eric Elmosnino, Laetitia Casta, Anna Mouglalis, Lucy Gordon

The incredible life story of France's most notorious star - musician, womaniser and all-round maverick Serge Gainsbourg.

As a young Russian-Jewish boy growing up in Nazi-occupied Paris, Lucien is haunted by an ugly caricatured face that features in anti-semitic propaganda. The ugly face becomes his alter-ego, a taunting companion that will never leave his side. Lucien grows up to be Serge Gainsbourg (Eric Elmosnino), one of France's greatest songwriters - and certainly the most controversial. From surviving World War 2 to provoking a scandal 40 years later with his iconoclastic reggae version of the French national anthem, Gainsbourg lives a truly extraordinary life. He seduces the most beautiful women in the world - screen goddess Brigitte Bardot (Laetitia Casta), singer Juliette Greco (Anna Mouglalis) and actress Jane Birkin (Lucy Gordon) - and records one of the most notorious songs of all time: 'Je t'aime (moi non plus)'. But his 'Ugly Face' alter ego is never far away...

Screenplay: Joann Sfar

Distributor: Optimum

You should see it because: From graphic artist-turned-director Joann Sfar, it's a heartfelt tribute to one of France's greatest mavericks.

See it if you liked: Walk The Line (2005), Factory Girl (2006), La Vie En Rose (2007)