French actress Audrey Tautou stars as Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel in Anne Fontaine’s film about the designer's rise from obscure beginnings to the heights of fame in the fashion world and changed the way women dressed forever.

Gabrielle Chanel, the illegitimate daughter of a travelling salesman who learns to sew in a Catholic orphanage, earns her pet name 'Coco' as a singer in a cabaret club, where she catches the eye of high society gentlemen who provide the opportunities she needs to launch her career.

Benoît Poelvoorde plays one of Chanel's lovers, Balsan and American-born Alessandro Nivola is Arthur "Boy" Capel, the striking polo player who was said to have inspired Chanel's menswear look.

The film is loosely based on Edmonde Charles-Roux's book, L'Irrégulière: Ou, Mon Itinéraire Chanel, adapted for the screen by Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) and director Anne Fontaine.

Coco Avant (before) Chanel is released in UK cinemas on Friday 31st July 2009.

If you speak french great, if not then just enjoy the magic and romance of this trailer.