Eric Elmosnino, Anna Mouglalis, Laetitia Casta, Lucy Gordon, Mylene Jampanoi.

122 mins

★★★

Serge Gainsbourg is probably best known to most of us as the French chap responsible for some heavy breathing on the record Je T’Aime. That record, also featuring British actress Jane Birkin, caused something of a stir when released due to its saucy factor.

There was a lot more to Gainsbourg, a career as a songwriter and flings with sex kitten Brigitte Bardot and singer Juliette Greco.

I’m not so sure about the authenticity of the giant Jewish-looking head that pursues him through the streets.

This is one of director (and comic book artist) Joann Star’s ways of telling Gainsbourg’s story and presumably avoid making a routine biopic. All this artyfarty nonsense is a bit overdone. I grew tired of it, longing for a bit more realism and a little less surrealism. That’s because Gainsbourgh’s story is a fascinating one. Not least how a chap who wasn’t, shall we say, as pretty as a picture managed to attract such gorgeous women into his bed. What was the big attraction? Perhaps it was that cigarette permanently dangling from his lip.

Star is more interested in exploring his Jewish roots, from the time young Lucien (Gainsbourgh’s real first name) proudly wore his yellow star in occupied Paris.

Then the ugly face from a German anti-Jewish propaganda poster comes to life and haunts him, materialising in the later life as an imaginary friend (that we can see too – played by Doug Jones, from Hell Boy and Pan’s Labyrinth) who’s forever tapping him on the shoulder and offering him advice.

Eric Elmosnino gives a charismatic performance as Gainsbourg goes from starving painter to accomplished performer, womaniser and heavy smoker.