La Gloire de mon père

This, like "Jean de Florette" and "Manon Of The Spring" is the first of two French films that go together. The second part of this story is the film, "My Mother's Castle." See them both, but if you can only see one, my recommendation is "My Mother's Castle."

As in many French films, this offers very little action and not much that is noteworthy but is filled with interesting characters and excellent storytelling. The French still offer that great storytelling, something that has slowly faded among filmmakers in other countries.

This story is based on the memoirs of Marcel Pagnol, a very Liberal educator and atheist. His views are probably the main reason critics all loved this movie. They could identify.

Despite the father's shortcomings, there is a nice appeal here as all the characters are interesting to varying degrees. I love the way they all express themselves, certainly different than we do here in North America. As with most of these French stories, there is very little profanity, too.

This is a movie for those who enjoy magic and nostalgia while floating away in childhood memories. It is the calm and enchanting story of the adventures of Marcel Pagnol. Julien Ciamaca does an outstanding job, he is handsome, naive and buoyant. The landscape and the narrative style make this movie, at least in my eyes, a real masterpiece. The entire story is full of nostalgia and deals with Marcel's very own perception of life. His friendship with Lili is honestly depicted and wonderfully staged. The boys do a great job, indeed. It is a tale that takes you back to contemporary France and revives the summer in the Provence region, a summer full of innocent joy and adventures. Inspiring and well-acted, the setting is beautiful and the music just perfect. All characters are well cast.

This is one film I would recommend to everybody. I remember when I saw that film in the theatre in france in 1990, I fell in love with it,the acting is great ,the locations are beautiful,the story is very touching,this film is a winner for sure.I probably saw this film in is follow up a thousand time and after each viewing it's just getting better. I would also say that the music of Vladimir Costa is fantastique it fits the scenery like a pair of gloves. The best french film ever in my opinion.

The story is simple--it is about a young boy who spent his summers in the hills of Provence--yet it manages to tug the viewer at the heart. It is such a far cry from the families we see today who have no time to relate to each other. The boy's love for his father (and mother)clearly shines in this film.

The father is a school teacher, an atheist, and a republican. But he is a loving husband and a great father to his children. The mother is shy and affectionate and is sensitive the needs of her husband and children. So what makes this film such an enchanting experience? Since I am not a writer, I cannot really put into words the way I felt after watching this film. I know it left a smile in my heart...it also made me nostalgic for it reminded me of my own childhood. I wanted it to go on long after the movie ended. Watch it and you will know what I mean. It will take you back to the magical moments of growing up.

This beautiful, charming work (and its companion MY MOTHER'S CASTLE) is lifted from the memoirs of filmmaker/screenwriter Marcel Pagnol.

It is a loving, romanticized recreation of Pagnol's childhood trips to the south of France.

Director Yves Robert ices every scene with sweet affection and a seemingly effortless attention to detail.

There are so many moving, heart-tugging scenes.

Describing them all would spoil the confection.

I'll mention one. Young Marcel accompanies his father, Joseph, a school teacher, to school one day. Not believing that Marcel can read already, Joseph writes a simple declaration of his love for Marcel on the blackboard. Marcel then surprises his father by reading out loud what his father wrote. It is such a touching, affecting scene.

MY FATHER'S GLORY is bursting to the seams with such magic.

Vladimir Cosma's score perfectly captures the period and tone of Pagnol's memories.

Simply exquisite.