In 1893, Gabrielle Chanel's wine merchant father abandoned her and her sister Antoinette to the Aubaz orphanage after her mother's death. As adults, Chanel (Audrey Tautou) and Antoinette (Marie Gillain) made a living by sewing and singing in bars. Chanel met French millionaire Etienne Bazin (Benoît Poelvoorde) because of the song "Little Dog Coco" and became one of his many mistresses. In Bazin's castle, Chanel began to make hats and became friends with actress Emilian (Emmanuelle Devos). Chanel was increasingly dissatisfied with her life of pleasing Bazin, and found that she fell in love with Bazin's friend, British industrialist Arthur Boyle Carber (Alessandro Nivola). With Bo Yi's support, can Chanel start the personal career she has always wanted? This film was nominated for the 2009 European Film Award Audience Award.