L'incroyable histoire du facteur Cheval

This amazing film of a true story is a unique masterpiece of its kind, like no other film, while the associations you get are mainly to the stylistic refinery of Carl Th. Dreyer, who had a knack of making quiet films with sustained inner life all through in spite of minimal action, thus producing a very high level of consistently serene style. The postman here is just an ordinary postman, he walks 32 kilometers every day to deliver his mail, when at the age of 53 he gets the idea to build a dream castle for his daughter. He has no talent but for dreaming, and yet he accomplishes in 33 years of daily toil an architectural wonder comparable with the cathedral of Antonio Gaudí, stone by stone, day by day, in incessant obstinacy against all objections by his wife and neighbours to his work, calling him a madman. Yet his life's work is there still standing today after 150 years, designed a national monument by the state. The film has tuned in perfectly to his mood and reticent character, it is a slow motion picture but of infinite poetry and beauty, and the true story is like a universal sermon that could but benefit anyone. It ends in serenity, crowning the poetical character of the film with an extra sense of timeless beauty.

Cheval said he was not for this world. But the world he lived in, his own world, energised by his love and awe of nature, moved him to share what was inside him. He affected everyone he met. He was authentic. He didn't waste words or energy. He was focused and wouldn't be told he couldn't do something he really wanted to do. Some couldn't understand how an uneducated man could have such deep knowledge of architecture and building techniques. But those who were close to him, accepted him as he was. Shy, humble and brilliant. What a wonderful example he is for us all. Motivated by love, giving something of himself, as a beautiful legacy for many years to come. Cheval inspires the idea that we can all do the same. Share something beautiful and unique. He said he had to be stubborn. I'd rather call it patience. One of my all time favourites.

This film based on real facts is incredibly powerful and moving. The relationship to his daughter Alice is the key to understand all what Cheval did. It's for her he will build this incredible palace. Most of the time he never speaks to anybody, but with Alice, the words spill out of his heart. He share with her his poetic vision of the world, full of legends, lost civilizations, ans symbolism. The way Cheval dies at the end of the movie is just so beautiful and moving... It's the most beautiful death of cinema history! Cheval was found of symbols, and interstingly enough, he died at the age of 88, symbol of eternity, and it took him 33 years to build his palace, the age of Christ. I like to believe that this was not just a coincidence...

The persistence of a man who keeps his feelings mainly to himself, to build a palace mainly from stones in the countryside, guided by pictures on postcards he delivered on his daily 32 km round through beautiful countryside, is awesome. The project took 33 years whilst still doing his postman's duties by foot. The palace still stands today in Hauterives, France.

With stunningly beautiful cinematography and the careful, quiet precision of good acting, this is always about 'the palace', after all.

An interesting and extreme reserved personality which many of his village thought meant he was backward or mad, a postman, with the most patient and beautiful wife who understands him despite her loneliness in doing so, builds a 'palace' for his adored and cherished daughter.

This amazing true story is nothing short of quite incredible, in the truest sense of the word. With imagination, heart, dedication and stubborn will, a simple postman creates by himself, a magical stone and mortar palace for his daughter. It still stands today.

Worth the watch, although it's a slow one, but nonetheless, worth the watch. If you're creative, this will resonate at many levels.