While London might have been swinging during the ‘60s, it was also boomtime in Paris. The French economy was experiencing almost unparalleled growth and with it came a decade of prosperity and hope. Not to mention, political and social turbulence. It was during this time that Serge Gainsbourg came to prominence, his playful and seductive songs caused a stir within polite society, as did his relationships with famous women.
His great love was actress and singer Jane Birkin, who he married and had a daughter with. Charlotte Gainsbourg followed in her father’s footsteps both musically and on the big screen. However, her relationship with her mother has always been slightly reserved. A distance between them, that neither women could accurately pinpoint. In her feature debut, Jane by Charlotte, she sets about rectifying this.
Jane by Charlotte is an intimate portrait of a mother by a loving daughter. This is the great strength of Gainsbourg’s film. It’s an insight into Birkin’s life, indeed their family life, that we wouldn’t otherwise have been party to. If you’re a fan of any of the trio, it’s invaluable. Otherwise, there may be slim pickings here. It’s technically debatable, at times, and often feels terribly self-indulgent. Jane by Charlotte provides more of a vignette than a rounded picture.
Jane by Charlotte opens at Quad Cinema, NYC on 18 March and Landmark Westwood, LA on 25 March.
