By host Tom Ashbrook:

At the end of a too-short and turbulent life, iconic French singer Edith Piaf sang “no regrets” with all her big French heart. She was four feet eight inches tall, with a driving voice that captured the tragedy and longing and beauty of a hard century.

Born on the mean streets of Paris, she was raised in her grandmother’s bordello and sang her way out of poverty and into stardom.

She’s been called a Billie Holiday, Judy Garland and Janis Joplin all rolled into one very French street waif turned diva. Now, a new movie captures her struggle.

This hour On Point: the life and music of Edith Piaf.

Guests:

Olivier Dahan, director and co-writer of “La Vie en Rose.”;
Jean-Max Guieu, Professor of French Civilization and Culture at Georgetown University.;
David Looseley, Professor of Contemporary French Culture at the University of Leeds.