February 22, 2008
The French singer and cultural icon had a tumultuous life, as moviegoers are seeing in the Oscar-nominated biopic, "La Vie En Rose." Marion Cotillard’s extraordinary portrayal of Piaf prompted Studio 360 listener Bill Mankin to write us about how he fell for her. Produced by Jenny Lawton, with production help from Jillian Goodman.
Weigh in: Is there a work of art that has changed your life?
Your story reminded me of a teacher in high school a member of the "Christian Brothers of Ireland" whose name, unfortunately, escapes me now despite the fact that his face is as clear to me now as when he handed me a book forty years ago. He turned me on to the book "A Canticle for Leibowitz". The book made me look anew at religion and beliefs, and eventually lead me to Buddhism which is like the AA of religions: "If you say you are a Buddhist then you are one. Who are we to say differently?"
Your story inspired me to introduce my French students to Piaf today in class. Mr. Mankin is right, I often think Piaf is not accessible to most high school students; that truly appreciating her magic requires some "living" and maturity. I played the last scene of "La Vie en Rose" where Piaf/Cotillard sings "Je ne regrette rien." They were attentive and respectful. Maybe someday they will think back on the first time they heard la Môme, recall the passion and remember their high school French teacher with fondness.
Listening to this story took me back to my own high school French class experience of Edith Piaf. Madame Fuzet introduced us to her recordings and at the time I couldn't understand her clearly emotional response to the music although I certainly got that there was SOMETHING to this woman's voice. It wasn't until I was much older and had my own experiences with loss, longing and I suppose life that Piaf's songs clicked. Thank you Studio 360 for this lovely memoir of a moment.
Please keep your comments relevant to this entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. All comments on Studio 360 are moderated. Studio 360 reserves the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the studio360.org Comment Guidelines before posting.
<< Back to Episode
Studio 360 is a co-production of
Public
Radio International and
WNYC New York Public Radio, and is funded in part by
Ken and Lucy Lehman, the
National Endowment for the Arts, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, and
DK Eyewitness Travel. Studio 360's American Icons series is supported in part by the
National Endowment for the Humanities. Our series on creativity and science is supported in part by the
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Our series on Underground Heroes is supported in part by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. 
