Dorathen Better Late Then Never

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Aubrey Hackett While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Ariella Broughton It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

jotix100 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.

etudiantemo Sagan's charisma lies in two elements: her intelligence and sincerity. She is apt at using simple but touching words and phrases, for example, the monologue on the first page of Bonjour, Tristesse. Her legendary life, full of inspiration, enthusiasm, caprice, sometimes looks like an enigma, mysterious and compellent,even her unconventional behavior looks acceptable. Though the film seems to be a little bit insipid, or rather dull, lacking passion and elegancy;the final scene her unreal talk to his son is truly moving. Sylvie Testud's casting is admirable, and i think she wears a unique temperament, close to a temperament of a poet and aristocratic temperament.

stensson It seems to be a trend in French mainstream movies nowadays, to film the story of celebrities' lives. "Sagan" is just another example.This author lived a quite unhappy life, being used but also letting herself be used by flatterers and others. They all disappeared and betrayed her, like she betrayed many people, including her son.But this story is told in such a common way. The main character is complex, but still made very easy to understand. It's all simplified in a moralizing way. Not that you can object much about moralizing over this destructive life and surely, this is entertaining and absolutely not stupid. But Sagan deserves better.

richard_sleboe Why another biopic? Why biopics at all? Writer-director Diane Kurys doesn't know. Perhaps so you have something to take your mother to. But chances are she'd fall asleep. Francoise Sagan may have had an exciting life, but you certainly wouldn't know from this movie. It feels like the entire cast and crew were high on 875, that mysterious morphine Sagan was a slave to half her life. Because nothing ever happens, you will quickly find your mind wandering to the fringes of the screen. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe it's even a cinematic strategy, but I wouldn't bet on it. Take Florence Malraux, the eminent writer's daughter. Played by Margot Abascal, she is so much more vibrant and adorable than everybody else you wonder why the movie isn't about her. Or take the shady guy: When Francoise and Peggy, drunk as hell, check into the Hotel Raphael for a little lesbian loving, they pass a nameless stranger walking the other way. I wonder what his story is. Where is he going, wearing giant shades, in the middle of the night? Perhaps I should have followed him.