Brassens par Brassens

Georges Brassens is known to Hebrew listeners thanks to Yossi Banai’s wonderful performances of Brassens’ biting The Gorilla and more melancholy-romantic songs such as The Non-Proposal. Born in Sète in the South of France in 1921, Brassens was the ultimate singer-songwriter, the man born with a guitar in his hand who donned a lifelong mustache. Brassens brought into the world poignant songs about social injustices, cheating and prostitution, bad police officers and judges, and the pathetic bourgeoisie. His simple, slightly monotonous melodies give the lyrics the respect they deserve – and together they provide that kick-in-the-gut feeling often felt with chanson. Who was Brassens and how did he develop the unique style that conquered France and other parts of the world? This fascinating film tries to decipher these questions with the help of photographs, interviews, and documents. It tries to get to the root of Brassens, a man of the people, who deeply understood the human race and knew how to describe, with razor-sharp humor, all its failures.