‘Coco’ avoids biopic cliches

This story could have made a great TV movie-of-the-week, where Coco Chanel rises from a dreary, orphaned childhood to become a successful icon of 20th century fashion. Instead, “Coco Before Chanel” cuts out the normal biopic crap and actually makes a movie worth watching.

The structure is refreshing: instead of showing Chanel’s years as a famous designer, the story stops just as she achieves her first success. Rather than a by-the-numbers list of Chanel’s accomplishments, the film focuses on her personality and the relationships that shaped her life.

Chanel is played by Audrey Tautou. Normally vivacious and charming, here she is gaunt and pale as the soon-to-be famous designer. Her usual beauty is replaced by an austere coldness.

Chanel’s relationships with others are sometimes chilling. She lives as a baron’s mistress, using him to supply her monetary needs. Her only real romance, with an Englishman, is strangely cold.

“Coco Before Chanel” is a fascinating portrait of a great figure back when she was just plain Coco.