Serge Gainsbourg the famous chanteur who defined a revolutionary style of song and sexuality gets his first feature film treatment in newcomer Joann Sfar’s Gainsbourg: Vie héroïque. Despite the title, Sfar accurately depicts Gainsbourg’s life as less than heroic.  Sfar, a legendary French comic book artist, actually depicts Gainsbourg’s demons as grotesque puppets that physically interact with Gainsbourg throughout his life.

No one looks to Gainsbourg for heroics though, his allure lies in his unapologetic hedonism. Thankfully hedonism films very well; especially when it involves Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin (two of Gainsbourg’s numerous conquests).  Die hard fans will find the film most entertaining, but anyone looking for a lesson in swagger will find a hero in Gainsbourg (By: Rodney Uhler)