A Magnificent Life

In 1955, 60-year-old Marcel Pagnol is a well-known and acclaimed playwright and filmmaker. When the editor-in-chief of Elle magazine commissions a weekly column about Pagnol’s childhood, he sees this as a great opportunity to go back to his artistic roots: writing. Realizing his memory is failing him and deeply affected by the disappointing results of his last two plays, Pagnol starts doubting his ability to pursue his work. That is until Little Marcel – the young boy he used to be – appears to him as if by magic. Together, they will explore Marcel Pagnol’s incredible life and bring back to life his most cherished encounters and memories…

Animator Sylvain Chomet made such beloved films as The Triplets of Belleville and The Illusionist, as well as the animated prologue to Joker: Folie a Deux, but this is his feature in 15 years. Chomet, who is about the same age as Pagnol in the film, clearly identifies with the writer/filmmaker, especially as he looks back over his life and grapples with how best to convey six decades in just an hour and a half. This is a very French film (to this day, Pagnol’s plays and films are studied in schools, not to mention more recent adaptations like Jean de Florette and Manon des sources), but its joy in creativity and in a life lived fully will speak to anyone.

Note: This film is presented in the English language version.

Chomet’s film is an edifying, educating piece of work, beautifully drawn and composed.

Savina Petkova, The Film Stage