Annie Girardot, ainsi va la vie (2008)

Introduction
"Annie Girardot, ainsi va la vie" (Annie Girardot, So Goes Life) is a 2008 French documentary directed by Nicolas Baulieu. The movie provides an intimate portrait of the life and profession of the prominent French starlet Annie Girardot, who had a prolific career spanning over 51 years. Through interviews, film clips, and individual anecdotes, Baulieu records the essence of Girardot's extraordinary skill and her tragic struggle with Alzheimer's illness.

Early Life and Career
The documentary starts with a quick summary of Girardot's early life, touching on her childhood and the origin of her love for acting. Born in 1931 in Paris, Annie Girardot discovered her passion for theater at a young age, eventually enrolling in the prominent Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique (National Conservatory of Dramatic Art). After finishing, she signed up with the prominent Comédie-Française, where she honed her acting abilities with noteworthy mentors.

Girardot's skill was evident from the start of her career, as she quickly got acknowledgment and success in the theater world. Her transition from stage to screen showed equally effective, and in the late 1950s, she began to make a name for herself in the French film industry.

Rise to Fame and Acclaim
One of the documentary's focuses is on Girardot's acting accomplishments and the lots of remarkable functions she played throughout her profession. With over 100 movie credits to her name, Girardot's body of work is impressive and diverse. She ended up being understood for her powerful and emotionally charged efficiencies, often representing strong-willed and complex females.

Annie Girardot's advancement role can be found in 1960 when she starred in the drama movie "Rocco and His Brothers", directed by the Italian filmmaker Luchino Visconti. Her portrayal of Nadia, a self-destructive woman of the street, made her prevalent important praise and international acknowledgment.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Girardot developed herself as one of France's most popular starlets and a key figure in European movie theater. She won various awards for her work, consisting of 3 César Awards (France's comparable to the Oscars), cementing her status as one of the country's most popular and reputable talents.

Personal Life and Relationships
Beyond her expert achievements, Annie Girardot, So Goes Life likewise looks into Girardot's individual life. The movie explores her relationships, including her turbulent marital relationship to Italian actor Renato Salvatori, with whom she shared a child, Giulia. Additionally, Girardot's long-lasting friendship with fellow starlet Françoise Fabian is highlighted, as well as her connection to various other cinematic skills, such as Claude Lelouch and Alain Delon.

Alzheimer's Diagnosis and Later Years
The documentary becomes increasingly mournful as it addresses Girardot's fight with Alzheimer's disease. Detected in the late 1990s, Girardot's condition gradually intensified for many years, making it exceptionally challenging for her to continue working in the show business. However, she remained identified and continued to handle roles until 2006, when her illness made it impossible to continue.

As the film documents her decrease, it ends up being evident that Alzheimer's not only robbed Girardot of her memory and cognitive faculties but also eliminated the extremely essence of her gleaming, dynamic character. Baulieu's interviews with Girardot herself, in addition to her friends and family members, reveal their heartbreak and struggle to come to terms with the tragic reality of her situation.

Conclusion
"Annie Girardot, ainsi va la vie" is a touching and bittersweet tribute to the life and profession of an amazing woman and remarkable actress. Through the movie's intimate and delicate portrayal of Girardot, audiences are provided a glance into the world of a real artist who passionately devoted her life to her craft. It is an event of her indomitable spirit and enormous skill, in addition to a testament to the devastating impact of Alzheimer's illness.

Top Cast

  • Annie Girardot (small)
    Annie Girardot
    Self
  • Muriel Robin (small)
    Muriel Robin
    Self
  • Claire Keim (small)
    Claire Keim
    Self (voice)
  • Valéra Babaryka
    Self
  • Alain Delon (small)
    Alain Delon
    Self
  • Jean-Pierre Marielle (small)
    Jean-Pierre Marielle
    Self
  • Robert Hossein (small)
    Robert Hossein
    Self