Yves Montand, the 20th century heartthrob, is still an integral part of French culture even today, more than 30 years after his death. His unique voice made every chanson a hit, while his stage presence transformed him into a movie star and the favorite of Hollywood’s great directors and producers. He starred in French and American romance films (César and Rosalie, Let’s Make Love) alongside more serious fare (Jean de Florette and Costa-Gavras’s political thrillers).
Montand dreamed of becoming a star from a young age. He succeeded, in part thanks to the women by his side – from Édith Piaf to Simone Signoret (whom he married) and Marilyn Monroe. Clips from Montand’s films and songs combined with archival footage paint a portrait of his meteoric rise from the son of immigrants to international star and political activist.