New Line/HBO joint venturePicturehouse has acquired US rights to the hotly sought after Cannes markettitle La Vie En Rose, the biopicof Edith Piaf which stars Marion Cotillard as Piaf and Gerard Depardieu as LouisLeplee.

The film follows Piaf's risefrom the slums of Paris to the limelight of New York all the while strugglingwith relationships with some of the time's most famous names.

The deal was concluded atCannes with TF1 International. Acting for Picturehouse were Sara Rose, seniorvice president of acquisitions, and Carolyn Blackwood, executive vice presidentof business affairs and co-productions for New Line. Acting for for the filmwas Nicolas Eschbach, executive vice president of world sales at TF1 International.

Alexandra Rossi, vicepresident of European/Latin American acquisitions and co-productions at NewLine, brought the project to the attention of Picturehouse president Bob Berneyand Rose.

The film was directed byOliver Dahan (Crimson Rivers 2)and produced by Alain Goldman of Legende whose credits include both CrimsonRivers films, Vatel and 1492: Conquest Of Paradise.

Other Picturehouse releasesthis year include Robert Altman's A Prairie Home Companion, Steven Shainberg's Fur and Cannes competition entry Pan's Labyrinth directed by Guillermo Del Toro.