Francoise Sagan loved to live large. Success came early in her life. The appearance of her novel "Bonjour tristesse" propelled her into the French literary stratosphere with a book that became a sensation. She came from the bourgeois world, by surrounding herself with an entourage of people that loved to party, cost her dearly. Among her friends were Florence Malraux, the daughter of legendary writer Andre Malraux. The film emphasizes how much she loved the material things that came with her celebrity, although she could not care less about money. The proof is how she went through fortunes and ended alone and penniless.
Her love for fast cars caused her an accident that almost killed her. From the drugs that she was given to allay her pain, she became addicted to some them, specially cocaine, which she and her friends loved. Ms. Sagan was never a happy woman. In spite of the wealth she was able to accumulate, she died almost penniless. The house she loved had to be sold to pay her debts.
The woman who supposedly led a privilege life never found real love in her life. She married Guy Schoeller early on, only to divorce him a few years later. Her romance to American Robert Westhoff ended amicably when he decided to take a male lover after giving her a son. Ms. Sagan became involved with fashion stylist Peggy Roche in a lesbian relationship that lasted until her death from cancer. At the same time she was having an affair with a French Playboy editor, something that was left out of the film.
At the end of her life, Francoise Sagan was involved in a tax evasion scandal, as another woman, the mysterious Astrid, came into her life making her dependent on her, and abandoning her at the worst moment in her life when she became ill.
Diane Kurys, co-wrote and directed "Sagan", a film made for French television which was shown on cable recently. All the salient points of the life of a celebrity like Francoise Sagan are documented in the picture. Her take on the novelist shows a sympathetic view of a woman who had it all and squandered her talents carelessly. Her love for the fast life and excesses ultimately brought upon her sad ending.
Sylvie Testud showed an uncanny physical similarity to Ms. Sagan. This actress is the main reason for watching "Sagan'. The actress shows a vulnerable side of a woman that had it all but was never comfortable with her own celebrity. Her reckless living was her worst enemy. She was a monster, and yet, she had a tremendous sense of loyalty to the group of friends that stayed with her until the end. The supporting cast does good work for Ms. Kurys.
Whether one liked Ms. Sagan's literature, or not, she was an influential figure of the last century. One of the best things in the film is the crisp cinematography of Michel Abramowicz who clearly understood the world of Ms. Sagan and photographs her playgrounds in vivid colors. The music score is by Armand Amar.
Her love for fast cars caused her an accident that almost killed her. From the drugs that she was given to allay her pain, she became addicted to some them, specially cocaine, which she and her friends loved. Ms. Sagan was never a happy woman. In spite of the wealth she was able to accumulate, she died almost penniless. The house she loved had to be sold to pay her debts.
The woman who supposedly led a privilege life never found real love in her life. She married Guy Schoeller early on, only to divorce him a few years later. Her romance to American Robert Westhoff ended amicably when he decided to take a male lover after giving her a son. Ms. Sagan became involved with fashion stylist Peggy Roche in a lesbian relationship that lasted until her death from cancer. At the same time she was having an affair with a French Playboy editor, something that was left out of the film.
At the end of her life, Francoise Sagan was involved in a tax evasion scandal, as another woman, the mysterious Astrid, came into her life making her dependent on her, and abandoning her at the worst moment in her life when she became ill.
Diane Kurys, co-wrote and directed "Sagan", a film made for French television which was shown on cable recently. All the salient points of the life of a celebrity like Francoise Sagan are documented in the picture. Her take on the novelist shows a sympathetic view of a woman who had it all and squandered her talents carelessly. Her love for the fast life and excesses ultimately brought upon her sad ending.
Sylvie Testud showed an uncanny physical similarity to Ms. Sagan. This actress is the main reason for watching "Sagan'. The actress shows a vulnerable side of a woman that had it all but was never comfortable with her own celebrity. Her reckless living was her worst enemy. She was a monster, and yet, she had a tremendous sense of loyalty to the group of friends that stayed with her until the end. The supporting cast does good work for Ms. Kurys.
Whether one liked Ms. Sagan's literature, or not, she was an influential figure of the last century. One of the best things in the film is the crisp cinematography of Michel Abramowicz who clearly understood the world of Ms. Sagan and photographs her playgrounds in vivid colors. The music score is by Armand Amar.
