Parents' Guide to

Coco Before Chanel

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Fashion biopic is OK for teens; more style than substance.

Movie PG-13 2009 110 minutes
Coco Before Chanel Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Plucked from a music hall by a wealthy womanizer, Etienne Balsan (Benoit Poelvoorde), Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel (Audrey Tautou) discovers she has a talent for less-is-more fashion, and dreams of a life where she stands on her own two feet. Part of her inspiration is an English lover, Boy Capel (Alessandro Nivola), who remains enamored despite marrying an aristocrat. Strangely, this setup -- she with Etienne; he with his fiancée and, later, wife; the two of them together when possible -- leads to her realization that the life she wants is one in which she has no one to answer to but herself. Love, she wants, but independence, even more.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (2):

While Tautou has presence and Poelvoorde is fearsome as a chauvinistic lover who is surprised to discover how much he cares, the movie doesn't leave one breathless like the designer's fashions do. This French language-drama is regimented in its chronological approach and lacks the joie de vivre a biopic about possibly the chicest woman that ever lived ought to have.

As a subject, Coco compels. But this sliver of her life is paltry, material-wise. Yes, there's the tug-of-war between two men -- not really much of a war, since both appear all-too-willing to share her -- and the fascinating beginnings of Coco's exacting eye. And there's her struggle to be seen on her own terms and not as an accoutrement to a man. But that could've been condensed into an hour, leaving another hour for more of her life. (There has been controversy over the hemming of Chanel's reputation as a Nazi sympathizer.) Or, at least, for more glimpses of her at work. The few scenes we get of her doing this come alive. We understand this film is entitled "Coco Before Chanel" for a reason. But for most viewers, Coco is Chanel, and seeing the before is made greater if we see the after.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why Chanel decides to become Balsan's mistress. Did she have any other options? What does her situation say about the opportunities available to women at the time?

  • What do you think about Chanel's romantic entanglements? Is it possible for her to be with the man she loves?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate