A star is born in a time of both celebration and instability in this historical drama with music from director Christophe Barratier. In the spring of 1936, Paris is in a state of uncertainty; while the rise of the Third Reich in Germany worries many, a leftist union-oriented candidate, Léon Blum, has been voted into power, and organized labor is feeling its new power by standing up to management.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 3 wins & 7 nominations total
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
Paris 36 is perhaps overlong for what it is, and it's certainly feather-light, but it gives its watcher an uncomplicated pleasure; like looking through a faded scrapbook, filled with memories once bright.
– Moira MacDonald,
Seattle Times,
16 Apr 2009
fresh:
An utterly charming and sentimental French melodrama with music, a nostalgic look backstage and back in history.
– Roger Moore,
Orlando Sentinel,
22 Apr 2009
rotten:
Paris 36 is a handsomely made French musical that never really soars.
– Mike Mayo,
Washington Post,
23 Apr 2009
rotten:
Essentially a pastiche, as musty as a flea market.
– Andrea Gronvall,
Chicago Reader,
24 Apr 2009
rotten:
If you're a Francophile, it may be worth a look. But it's no Moulin Rouge.