Aline

To Céline Dion,

We had to wait for her sixth film for the actress, writer and director Valérie Lemercier to finally sign a very successful film and confirm that her omnipresent humor can be catalyzed in the right direction. Not that Quadrille (1996), Le derrière (1998), Palais royal (2005), 100% cachemire (2013) and Marie Francine are disappointing comedies, but they curiously lacked a real look from an invested director. Even though Aline wants to be a fantasy biopic tracing the career of one of the greatest artists, Celine Dion (here called Aline Dieu) whose voice is one of the most powerful and beautiful today.

The action of the film begins in Quebec City by tracing the meeting of Aline Dieu's parents, Sylvette (Danielle Fichaud) and Anglomard (Roc LaFortune). Their fourteenth child, Aline, turns out to have a unique gift for singing. While music is omnipresent in the Dieu family, her brother sends a demo to music producer Guy-Claude who has only one idea in mind: to make Aline the greatest singer in the world. The success starts in Canada and then becomes worldwide thanks to the support of Guy-Claude who will become Aline's husband. Aline's extraordinary destiny will lead her to live an extraordinary career by winning the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, an Oscar for the song in the movie Titanic (1997) and by performing in the biggest halls and stadiums around the world. 

It is interesting to see how Valérie Lemercier and Brigitte Buc's script takes into account the real events of Celine Dion's history to revisit them with a true respect for this genius artist. Even if we would have liked the names of Jean Jacques Goldman and James Cameron to appear here so much they allowed Celine Dion to become one of the biggest stars in the world. It is interesting to see the importance that takes in the film the show in residence in Las Vegas of Celine Dion from 2003 to 2007 which became the most profitable in history. The fact that the film Aline is directed by a Frenchwoman reveals how this great artist is perceived in France and one can think that if it had been directed by an American director the film would have been different and would not have forgotten to include the participation of Celine Dion in The Walt Disney Pictures.

It is also interesting to see that in the film whether it is Aline as a child or adult, the face remains that of Valerie Lemercier. Seeing Aline as a child, we think of the sketch of the Dummies parodying the school of the fans and this adds a nostalgic note to the film undeniable. The special effects to give different ages to Valerie Lemercier are used with a real will of economy. We feel that Valérie Lemercie is a fan of Céline Dion so much she takes care of the small details and constantly tries to be credible including showing the comical character during different shows and the fact that this artist recognizes that she did not study because her life revolves only around the song and the pleasure she takes to sing in public. The different periods of Celine Dion's career parade before our eyes and are highlighted through the different clothes and hairstyles worn by Aline Dieu in the film. These scenes reproduce real scenes of the life of the artist that it is a photo shoot or television shows making burst the comical side, frank and whole of the artist.

The songs also occupy an important part in the film and the fact of having chosen the singer Victoria Sio to cover the songs of Celine Dion works perfectly. The range of Victoria Sio's voice manages to come through on screen without any false notes. Even if the film is more turned on the private life of Celine Dion that it is the omnipresence of her mother in her professional or personal life or her producer who made her a world star. The relationship between the producer, 26 years older than her and the fact that he started working when Celine Dion was only 12 years old and married her when she was 26 years old is clearly shown in the film and especially how this true love managed to hold and remain intact until René's death (Guy-Claude in the film). 

The only false note comes at the end of the film and shows that Valérie Lemercier did not manage to find the best ending to close her film. Aline ends with the song Ordinaire, which is totally covered to show that Céline Dion dedicated her life to singing and started from nothing to build a real financial empire. We would have liked rather scenes of Celine Dion's life and a text relating her number of albums sold, shows ... Remains that Aline is a real success and make us laugh as much as move us. The pleasure taken by Valérie Lemercier to pay tribute to Céline Dion is felt in every minute of her film.

Aline
Directed by Valérie Lemercier
Produced by Edouard Weil, Alice Girard, Sidonie Dumas
Written by Valérie Lemercier, Brigitte Buc
Starring Valérie Lemercier, Sylvain Marcel, Danielle Fichaud , Roc LaFortune , Antoine Vézina , Pascale Desrochers , Jean-Noël Brouté, Sonia Vachon, Victor Boccard, Martine Fontaine, Véronique Baylaucq, Caroline Rabaliatti, Denis Lefrançois, Laurent Bariteau, Michel Drucker, Carole Weyers, Dylan Raffin , Geneviève Morissette 
Music by Rémy Galichet and Laurent Marimbert
Cinematography : Laurent Dailland
Edited by Jean-François Elie
Production companies : Rectangle Productions
Distributed by Gaumont distribution
Release date : November 10, 2021 (France)
Running time : 123 minutes

Seen on October 2, 2021 at Gaumont Disney Village, Room 2 seat A18

Mulder's Mark:

According to the old adage, clothes don't make the man. But in cinema, it sets the character. When you look at Valérie Lemercier's filmography, it's hard not to see a very personal appetence for transformation. However, there is no question of disappearing completely behind her fictional doubles, each time despite the haircut, the mimics or the presence, the actress remains visible. With Aline, the exercise becomes even more delicate, because the inspiration comes from a popular figure that everyone knows. From Aline to Céline, the difference is really about two small letters. For the rest, except for a few micro-exaggerations and chronological errors, everything seems real. 

This schizophrenia, almost organic, gives Aline a unique identity. Far from being the simple parody that the trailer and viral marketing tried to sell us, the film focuses on the atypical love story between Aline and Guy-Claude. Some funny, theatrical sequences offer pure moments of comedy. The gallery of Quebec actors surrounding Valérie Lemercier brings a freshness and a sense of rhythm. In these moments, one understands why the director did not assume the writing of a biopic at 100%. The truth is certainly between a problem related to copyright and the desire to retain total freedom as a demiurge. 

However, Valérie Lemercier takes her subject very seriously. The film never evades the flaws of its heroine, locked in a kind of golden cocoon that has ended up cutting her off from a certain reality of the world. As the film progresses, it gradually becomes a vibrant tribute to the Quebec singer. Sincere emotion springs up, quite unexpectedly, at the turn of a scene, a dialogue or a song. Even the most jaded of spectators will find it difficult not to succumb to these sensitive impulses.

It must be said that Céline Dion's repertoire belongs to a collective imagination. Xavier Dolan had already proved to us how perfectly his music was in tune with the 7th art. Valérie Lemercier takes it to the next level by elevating her discography to the level of narrative inspiration. All this without the singer's real voice ever resounding during the film! It's a pity that the script doesn't take the time to explore the creation of each of these songs, taking us out of the imagery of the star and into that of the artist. Aline would have gained even more soul.

Aline
Directed by Valérie Lemercier
Produced by Edouard Weil, Alice Girard, Sidonie Dumas
Written by Valérie Lemercier, Brigitte Buc
Starring Valérie Lemercier, Sylvain Marcel, Danielle Fichaud , Roc LaFortune , Antoine Vézina , Pascale Desrochers , Jean-Noël Brouté, Sonia Vachon, Victor Boccard, Martine Fontaine, Véronique Baylaucq, Caroline Rabaliatti, Denis Lefrançois, Laurent Bariteau, Michel Drucker, Carole Weyers, Dylan Raffin , Geneviève Morissette 
Music by Rémy Galichet and Laurent Marimbert
Cinematography : Laurent Dailland
Edited by Jean-François Elie
Production companies : Rectangle Productions
Distributed by Gaumont distribution
Release date : November 10, 2021 (France)
Running time : 123 minutes

Seen on October 27, 2021 at the Forum des images

Marianne Velma's Mark: