Marius & Fanny

Marcel Pagnol's beloved French Fanny trilogy (1931-36), a heartfelt saga of waterfront life and love in Marseilles, France, is faithfully recreated in this wonderful homage/remake by noted actor-turned-director Daniel Auteuil. Pagnol's deceptively simple story revolves around a young man named Marius (Raphaël Personnaz) who lusts for the sea; Fanny (Victoire Bélézy), the woman who loves him; and Marius's lovable bear of a father, César (Auteuil). Marius & Fanny serves up the first two films (the final entry, César, has not yet begun filming). The basic plot revolves around Fanny becoming pregnant on the eve of Marius's departure on a ship, after which an elderly shopkeeper named Panisse (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) weds her in order to save her honor—an act that will lead to further complications. What makes Pagnol's trilogy so special is the depth of character—the smitten Marius (whose mistress is the sea); the feisty Fanny, who suffers immeasurably before being rewarded; and the crotchety but fiercely loving Cesar, who wins the audience's undying devotion whether he's lying, cheating at cards, or scheming with Fanny's mother to get the two lovebirds together. Although many critics balked at the narrative's sentimentality (Auteuil's only modern concession is a brief and tasteful nude shot of Fanny and Marius sleeping in bed), fans of the original will appreciate this beautifully-lensed tribute that perfectly captures the flavor of master storyteller Pagnol. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray/DVD Review—June 27, 2017—Criterion, 395 min., in French w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: 4 discs, $99.95; Blu-ray: 3 discs, $99.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and debut on Blu-ray, 1931's Marius, 1932's Fanny, and 1936's César all feature great transfers and uncompressed monaural soundtracks on the Blu-ray release. Extras on Marius include an interview with Nicolas Pagnol, grandson of writer and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol (30 min.), a “Pagnol's Poetic Realism” new video essay by scholar Brett Bowles (30 min.), and an intro by filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier (20 min.). Extras on Fanny include segments from the 1973 documentary series “Marcel Pagnol: Morceaux choisis.” Extras on César include a 1935 “Marseille” short by Pagnol (13 min.), archival interviews with costars Robert Vattier (11 min.), Pierre Fresnay (7 min.), and Orane Demazis (4 min.), and a 2015 French TV clip about the new restoration (3 min.). Also included is an essay by film critic Michael Atkinson and excerpts from Pagnol's introductions to his plays and screenplays. Bottom line: an excellent edition of Pagnol's wonderful classic trilogy.]