Hailed in France as a national treasure, Serge Gainsbourg was beloved both for his music and for being the country’s favourite ’enfant terrible’. This poetic and beautifully constructed documentary presents Gainsbourg entirely in his own words, accompanied by carefully selected archival footage, including musical performances and Gainsbourg’s previously unreleased personal films. The result is an intimate and moving portrait of a man shaped by a domineering father and living as a Jewish child in Nazi-occupied France. Director Pierre-Henry Salfati (Jazzman from the Gulag, TJFF 2001) offers fascinating insight into Gainsbourg’s artistic mind. A must-see for all Gainsbourg fans and a wonderful film for anyone interested in getting to know a musical legend.
