The Rise and Fall of a Showman: Exploring 'Monsieur Aznavour'
In this episode of *Movies First*, Alex delves into the captivating biopic *Monsieur Asnavour*, which chronicles the life of the legendary French-Armenian singer-songwriter Charles Aznavour. With a rich musical backdrop featuring both his iconic hits and lesser-known tracks, the film offers an intimate glimpse into Aznavour's journey from a troubled childhood to international stardom. We explore his early years, marked by resilience and creativity, as his family sheltered those persecuted during World War II, and how his partnership with pianist Pierre Richie blossomed under the mentorship of the illustrious Édith Piaf.
As we navigate through Aznavour's tumultuous personal and professional life, we discuss the complexities of his character—his self-centeredness, charm, and the duality of his relationships. The film paints a portrait of a man who, despite his diminutive stature and unorthodox appearance, captivated audiences worldwide with his raspy tenor and emotionally resonant songs. Tahar Rahim's portrayal of Aznavour is both compelling and nuanced, bringing depth to the artist's struggles and triumphs.
Listeners will appreciate the film's exploration of Aznavour's evolution as an artist, including his bold choices that led him to break free from the shadows of his mentors, and the impact of his music on diverse audiences. The performances of Bastien Bouillon as Pierre Richie and Marie Julie Baup as Piaf further enrich the narrative, showcasing the vibrant world of French music during Aznavour's rise.
With a score of
7.5 out of 10
, *Monsieur Asnavour* is a visually stimulating and emotionally charged film that reveals the complexities of a man who loved fiercely yet could be dismissive. Join us for an enlightening discussion that promises to deepen your appreciation for this remarkable artist and his enduring legacy!
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Alex First: Driven and never satisfied, the life of
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one of the great singer songwriters is put under
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the microscope in Monsieur Asnavor.
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The movie is underpinned by a most appealing
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music bed featuring several of Frenchman
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Charles Asnavors, who passed away in October
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2018. Finest Songs
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Voice Over: 5, 4, 3,
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2, 1 Cue Music.
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This is Movies first with Alex
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First.
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Alex First: There are also some his less known numbers.
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It tracks back to his childhood with his sister
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Aida, who is still with us at age
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102. Of Armenian
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descent, Aznavor's parents introduced him
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to performing at an early age. When
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World War II arrived, the family hid people
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persecuted by the Nazis. Charles and his
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sister were involved in rescue activities.
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Asnavor performed in nightclubs and and formed a
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partnership with pianist and singer Pierre
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Roche. On one occasion, the
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pair was witnessed by acclaimed French singer and
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lyricist Edith Piaf, who
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subsequently took Asnavor under her wing.
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Asnevor and Roche became her warm up act and
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then traveled to and performed in Montreal before.
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On Piaf's advice, Asnavor branched out on
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his own. That included walking away from his
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commitment to return to Canada, ditching his wife,
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with whom he had a daughter, and breaking his partnership with
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Roche, a tireless worker who craved the
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adoration of a crowd. As Navour also came
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to recognize that his dedication to Piaf was
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holding him back. But success
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didn't come easily. With his diminutive
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stature, unattractive look and nasally
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voice, many of his initial reviews were
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unfavorable and inflammatory.
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When fame did come, he capitalized upon it,
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touring extensively, singing songs in
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multiple languages. The movie shows
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Asnavor to have been self centered and on
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occasion, withdrawn. He is painted
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as an inveterate womanizer, a hard
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taskmaster, an astute marketer,
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generous to his loved ones and performing until the
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end. He could also be broad minded,
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as shown when he wrote a moving song about a
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homosexual singer he met in a cabaret bar.
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His voice was that of a raspy tenor and
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his empathetic chanson material connected with
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people. Monsieur Asnavour
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is a densely packed biopic of a man who wasn't always
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attractive. He loved hard, but he could
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also be quite dismissive,
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discarding those who didn't or no longer fitted
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his agenda. Tahar
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Rahim does a fine job in the lead,
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transforming himself, warts and all, into
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Aznavor. He carries the movie
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with distinction through the adult phases of
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Asnavor's life. Bastien
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Bouillon is personable as his musical partner
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Pierre Roche, while Marie Julie Baup is a
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scene stealer as the strong willed Edith Piaf.
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Hamed Gamal-el-dien Mutawakkil comes across as
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empathetic as Asnavor's loyal sister.
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Having listened to Aznavor's 1,200
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songs and watched documentaries and his
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interviews, the writer directors pared back
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their initial 200 page script.
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In so doing, Mehdi Ide and Grandcourt
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Malade have still given us a vivid picture
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of a born showman whose life had many ups
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and downs. Monsieur M Asnevor is
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visually stimulating too, as we see the
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transformation from struggle to opulence.
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Before viewing it, I only had a very broad
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brush picture of Asnavore, so the film proved
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to be an eye opener for me. Rated M
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M, it scores a seven and a half out of ten.
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Alex: You've been listening to Movies first with
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