Dalida

February 26, 1967

Bruno, it's important. I must see Luigi's family.

Don't go alone.

Rosy should go with you.

She's my cousin, not my bodyguard.

It's not a problem.

She'll keep you company.

I must see Luigi's family. I'll be back tomorrow.

- You want to go alone? - Yes.

- You're sure? - Yes.

OK, as you wish.

Take care.

Have a good trip.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Hotel Prince de Galles, please.

Dalida attempted suicide last night in her hotel room.

The singer was found by hotel staff...

The singer's action

could be linked to the suicide of her lover, Luigi Tenco,

one month ago.

Luigi, do you mind waiting for me?

I'll wait for you here.

Two months earlier

I have a booking. Iolanda Gigliotti.

Very good.

Room 76, third floor.

Tell me something.

Something?

I don't know. Tell me about Heidegger.

How about him?

The "being-toward-death".

You make a fine student, Gigliotti!

You deserve a prize.

Come here.

To be human is to being alive

while going to death.

Like a tightrope walker.

Balancing between life and death so as not to fall.

I don't agree with Heidegger.

- Really? - No.

The main thing is being-toward-love.

No, leave the light on.

Why?

I am scared of the dark.

I'll protect you, angel.

She shouldn't have been left alone.

I'm her big brother, I should protect her.

Don't worry, it's not your fault.

Bruno, here's the doctor.

Well, can we see her?

She's out of danger but that doesn't mean she's alive.

But she's out of the woods... physically?

Physically, yes. Mentally, I'm less optimistic.

Meaning?

She needs specialist care to rekindle a zest for life.

We may need your help to understand her action.

We'll have to transfer her.

There are some excellent places near Paris.

I'll give you a list.

Excuse me.

And we still can't see her?

We have a protocol for suicide attempts.

Avoidance of those who remind her of the past.

They're the ones who have kept her going.

That's the problem.

What was your relationship with her?

Before or after the divorce?

I don't know.

How about when you met?

We met at a contest I held at the Olympia.

"Tomorrow's Chart Toppers" it was called.

April 9, 1956.

There was Bruno Coquatrix, Eddie Barclay and me.

Who wants to stay in today?

Let's go racing at Longchamp!

It's my radio station that's holding the contest.

Your listeners won't know!

If we find any stars, you'll sign them up!

We haven't before. Why now?

I've an idea. If I win at 421, we go.

You won't win.

You can't gamble on this.

We can.

We can.

I'll go first.

Her voice recalls the Italian sun.

Can she make a name for herself? It's up to you.

Miss...

Dalida!

Love me

Love me, my love

Listen to my prayer

You who are everything to me

Hold me gently in your arms

Don't leave me alone

You do not have the right

Without you I am but a lonely child

Just a child, lonely and forgotten

Love me

I need you so much

My life would be worthless

If you didn't love me

From then on, I was obsessed by finding her the best song

so she could become the best.

And she did.

Mr Barclay will see you now.

Do come in!

Welcome.

Lucien.

We loved your performance.

You're very talented

and we'd like to offer you a contract.

Heavy eyes, sad expression,

You can't sleep You're just a shadow of yourself

You roam the streets alone...

To Bambino!

And every night You wait beneath her window

I know you adore her Bambino, Bambino

And she has pretty eyes...

But you're still too young Bambino, Bambino

To play lovers' games Bambino

Strum away on your mandolin

My little bambino

All the way from Egypt, Miss Dalida!

Dalida and her terrific "Bambino".

An excellent composition, "Bambino"! A bewitching voice!

To our great friend, Dalida!

An Italian girl from Cairo...

Song Oscars 1961

You've become France's most popular star.

"Come Prima" by its creator,

Dalida.

How do you explain your success?

It's all about work.

I work very hard.

That leaves me with...

"TAGGI".

- What's that? - You don't know?

Taggi is a type of trouser.

You've never heard of it?

I swear it's true. Why would I make it up?

It's taggi.

The whole country is wondering.

Wondering what?

When's the wedding?

This isn't the time, Dali.

Why not?

Because... how can I say it?

A wedding takes a lot of planning.

That's why I'm asking.

Find a date, then. You're always touring.

- My fault? - Sorry for making your dream come true.

My dream is to have a child with my husband.

Stars don't have babies. It ruins the myth.

We've got our whole life for that.

Not when you're a woman.

We'll do it.

No, wait.

I've only just divorced.

Look at this wonderful career we're building together.

It's a bit like our baby.

I'm tired.

The lights hurt my eyes every night.

I know you're tired, darling.

But we have 9 songs in this year's charts.

That's a world first.

We have to think of that now.

What's the matter?

Do you ever see me as a woman?

- Just as a woman, I mean? - Of course, darling.

You know I love you.

But your love story is with the public too.

And with you.

With you first.

I want to make you dinner,

have a child,

be a normal woman.

Normal women dream of being you.

And I dream of being like them.

She and Lucien waited too long.

They should have married sooner.

It was so important to her.

It is to any woman.

Dalida is not just any woman.

No.

She is extraordinarily beautiful

in the sense she's no ordinary beauty.

You see?

When she was young,

she was different.

She remained in the dark for 40 days.

Cairo - Autumn 1933

She damaged her eyes by trying to look through her bandages.

Only my father's music could soothe her.

She didn't like herself in glasses.

Cairo - Spring 1940

Four eyes!

You're ugly!

Four eyes!