Playwright and director Marcel Pagnol returns with a modest, but charming tale set in rural France
Much of the same cast from the Marseille trilogy is back including Raimu as Aimable Castanier (again Welles once said he was the greatest actor) and Fernand Charpin as Le marquis. I could watch these two act (with great writing at their disposal) for hours- which is good- because that is basically what Pagnol’s approach is as director
A simple story of adultery and the ensuing melodrama—explored for dramatic and comedic purposes in each measure (Pagnol certainly uses “cuckold” in every film I’ve seen of his). It lends itself to a great character for Raimu- he’s able to show the full range of emotions here. He starts off confident, then drunk, funny, suicidal and melancholiac (sometimes within the same scene)
Playful wipe transitions
Pagnol is interested in philosophies on life and love- some great conversations between Le marquis (a non-believer) and the pastor
community and comic relief in the ensemble—something John Ford has as well in his work
Do you intend to watch Nomadland(2020) and Minari(2020)?Both are very good.
@Malith- I do