Forever Young (2018 film)

Forever Young is a 2018 French comedy film directed by Valérie Lemercier, who also stars in the lead role. The film is known in France as ALINE.

Synopsis

The film is a fictionalized and comedic biopic loosely based on the life of Canadian singer Céline Dion. While not explicitly named as Céline Dion in the film, the character Aline Dieu shares many biographical similarities and performance traits with the international superstar. The story follows Aline from her childhood in a large, musical family in Quebec, Canada, through her rise to global fame, her marriage to her manager, and her personal struggles.

Cast

• Valérie Lemercier as Aline Dieu (and as Sylvette, Aline's mother)
• Sylvain Marcel as Guy-Claude Kamar (Aline's manager and husband)
• Danielle Fichaud as Maman Dieu
• Roc LaFortune as Papa Dieu
• Antoine Vézina as Jean-Bobin

Production

Valérie Lemercier meticulously researched Céline Dion's life to prepare for the film. While the film is inspired by Dion's life, Lemercier has stated that it is not a strict biography, and that she took creative liberties with the story.

Reception

Forever Young received mixed to positive reviews upon its release. Critics praised Lemercier's performance and direction, as well as the film's musical sequences. However, some found the film's approach to its subject matter to be overly sentimental or lacking in depth. The film was a box office success in France.

Controversy

The film sparked some controversy due to its fictionalized portrayal of Céline Dion and her late husband, René Angélil. Some felt that the film was disrespectful to Dion's personal life.