I have just seen the new film (originally titled "La Mome") which is renamed "La Vie En Rose" for its US release, the biography of Edith Piaf. Now I totally see the point of Ikkyu's original post. The filmmaker Olivier Dahan could have had no idea, when he chose to put on screen the lettering "October 10, 1963" (the date of Piaf's death), the effect that would have on 'certain' members of the audience! I really hope that those of you in HK will be able to see this film soon. It is extremely thought provoking in many ways, and, aside from the Anita Mui connection, a truly masterful piece of work, certain to capture many awards in the coming year. The San Francisco audience burst into spontaneous applause at the end of the film.

The scenes are composed and shot in a way that recalls European 'Old Master' paintings come to life. But the events they depict of Edith Piaf's early life are ugly and horrific. She is ill, hungry, and terrified most of the time, passed back and forth between her mother who works in a brothel, and her father who is with a traveling circus. When she begins to sing on the street, it is just right there on the sidewalk with people walking by right in front of one, like a kid selling newspapers. No microphone, no band or accompaniment.

By now the film has been out long enough to have collected quite a lot of reviews and comments; if you search the web you will be able to learn quite a lot about Edith Piaf. In addition to the coincidence of the dates, and "year of the rabbit" there are others:

"Piaf gave away all her money, supported an entourage of hangers-on, and promoted the careers of her many male admirers. She once gave a fur coat to a woman on the street. She would say that "my voice is my treasure, and I will always perform again.""

and:

"It is always a challenge for her to be loved. She wants to be loved all the time. Her stage was where she could be safe and successful. So she lives in her art. At the end, she goes on what's come to be known as the 'suicide tour,' where she's plays every night, sings all night and this she doesn't survive."

(from http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0306/p01s03-woeu.html )

When Piaf was very young she became ill with a disease that caused her to lose her vision, and in a pivotal episode of her life, she prayed to Saint Theresa (?), her sight was miraculously restored and then she was able to call upon this higher power later at difficult periods of her life. This reminded me of the story of Anita's mother giving her daughter up to Kwan Yin when Anita vas very sick as a child.

At one point Edith Piaf's benefactor, a club owner, is murdered. His relatives blame Edith who has to lay low for a while.

Edith has a woman friend who has kept her company ever since her teenage years, and seems to be lurking in the background much of the time. In one scene at a party this friend is dressed in man's formal evening-wear, with a false mustache, just like Mui does in FBTS-III. Is Edith Piaf a lesbian? But she has love affairs with men. She likes good-looking and athletic guys, and married a boxing champion.

If all this seems to suggest an identity or continuation between Piaf and Mui, then the whole story raises some interesting questions. From the film, I would think that the life of Anita Mui would be seen as Nirvana compared to the life of Edith Piaf. My favorite interpretation at the moment is that it is the arc or life-passage of the artiste that is the unchanging or immortal entity, which manifests as Piaf one time, then as Mui, with 'improvements' or 'adjustments' as karma dictates. The unchanging elements are talent, birth, struggle vs. health or economics, discovery by the 'controlling powers' (night club owner, singing contest), then a flowering of success, love affairs, etc, then a period of sharing through children, or becoming a Si-fu to students, or works of charity, then inevitably, comes the ending by one means or another. In the case of Piaf-Mui, the 'improvements' are very real. For one, Mui never collapsed on stage, despite performing when ill. She never was addicted to drugs or had to be coaxed out of her dressing-room onto the stage. Anita from the very start had a poise and confidence that is best seen in her posture and movement skills. Piaf had to be painfully coached into learning to express herself with her hands while singing. In Mui's Final Concert DVD there is a clip of Mui rehearsing a roomful of dancers for the upcoming performance. I can't imagine Piaf taking charge of matters in this way.

My favorite scene in the film is one which Anita herself would really appreciate; after a performance Edith is relaxing with her circle of friends, and a very dignified and elegant older woman approaches the table to compliment Edith on her performance and introduce herself. It's Marlene Dietrich!

Anyway I hope you all get to see the film soon. Let us know what you think.

Gosh - wow -- the resemblance in their lives is uncanny. No matter what kinds of theories about reincarnation you subscribe to (or not), it's still very interesting to see these connections. Thanks to all of you (especially FB) for connecting the dots.

FY

FB, thanks lot to understand me. It's curious to see that we have the same impressions during the movie. That will be more intense for you, because You know Anita more than me. Your comparaison between the two stars are very interesting, before and after the movie. Whereas, You had an incontestable argument in february 2007 : "Did anyone consider that when it's October 10 in France it's already October 11 in China?" I can't answer for this. it's a pity.

Time difference between Hong Kong and France is 7 hours. France is 7 hours behind Hong Kong.

I have read books about incarnation, such as "Many Lives, Many Masters", "Through Time Into Healing" by Brian L . Weiss, discussion forum introduced to me by FB, and even the book "The Book of Tibetan Living and Dying" which was once our favourite topic in this forum, all talked about reincarnation.

Personally I believe in reincarnation too. But I have never thought about any connection between Anita and Edith, as I don't know Edith too much.

Anita mentioned before her master Rinpoche told her her previous life was a monk. But one can have many precious lives.

Anyway, we have the liberty to believe in whatever we like, as we will never be able to find the true fact.

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