Laetitia Casta and Eric Elmosnino in Gainsbourg

  • Laetitia Casta and Eric Elmosnino in “Gainsbourg”

Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar celebrates the 20th anniversary of the death of Serge Gainsbourg with Histoire de Melody Gainsbourg, a program of TV appearances and Scopitone films by the French pop icon, Wednesday 3/2 at 7 p.m. at 960 W. 31st St.

Afterward, DJ Clochard (aka DJ Vagrant) spins Gainsbourg tunes and covers by Juliette Greco, Catherine Sauvage, Petula Clark, Regine, Francoise Hardy, Mick Harvey and MC Solaar. French-inspired cocktail specials will be on offer.

“His shocking sexually risque lyrics for songs for France Gall (‘Les Sucettes’), both Jane Birkin and Brigitte Bardot (‘Je t’aime moi non plus’) and the highly controversional duet with his young daughter Charlotte (‘Lemon Incest’) often overshadowed his creative output and musical depth,” writes Maria’s proprietor Ed Marszewski.

“Yet, Gainsbourg’s scandalous boorish behavior, drug use and publc drunkeness often hid and protected his shyness, sensitivity and generosity (he was well loved by the local Parisian cabbies for leaving large tips while taking him back home after another night of debauchery). Comparing himself to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, he adopted the moniker ‘Gainsbarre,’ his alter-ego that was both uncontrollable yet somehow utterly captivating.”

In other Gainsbourg news, local distributor Music Box Films has acquired Gainsbourg, Joann Sfar’s adaptation of her own graphic novel about Lucien Ginsburg’s childhood under Nazi occupation and rise to international stardom.