MY FATHER'S GLORY

France, 1990, 105 minutes, Colour.
Philippe Caubere, Nathalie Roussel, Julien Ciamaca, Joris Molinas.
Directed by Yves Robert.

My Father's Glory and My Mother's Castle are two films based on Marcel Pagnol's memoirs of his childhood. Pagnol became a writer and a film writer and director, building his own studios in the 30s in Marseilles. He was responsible for the Marseilles Trilogy, with Marius, Fanny and The Baker's Wife as well as writing the stories of Jean De Florette and Manon des Sources. The popularity of Claude Berri's films of Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources in the late 80s led to Yves Robert making these autobiographical stories.

They take us back to the world of Marseilles and Provence at the beginning of the 20th century, a romantic world, a world of childhood from the perspective of the young boy, Marcel. The film focuses on Joseph and Augustine, Marcel's parents, he, a proper teacher with an anti clerical bent, she a devoted mother.

The first film focuses on the wonderful holiday in the mountains of Provence with Marcel's father becoming a hunter and capturing, with his son's help, two royal partridges. The second film also focuses on holidays, the return to the holiday house, the wonder of the Provence countryside and the boy's delightful memories of his mother. The re-creation of the atmosphere is beautiful, the helicopter photography of the scenery and the musical score shaping a responsive mood from the audience. The acting is also excellent from both adults and children. The films are delights, taking us back into a past era - and giving something of a portrait of the artist as a young boy.

1. The work of Marcel Pagnol, audience awareness of him, a writer, a film maker? These autobiographical stories?

2. The film as memoir, the perspective of the child, the glow of childhood, the holidays, the view of parents - and a past world?

3. Provence in the early 20th century, Marseilles, the house and the school, the holiday village, the house, the hills, the beauty, the summer season, the animals and birds? The musical score?

4. The title, and its focus, Marcel and his perspective, the view of his father, of his mother? Of the royal partridges? The voiceover, Marcel describing his own birth? His perceptions of his mother? The invitations for the audience to share these?

5. Joseph, the dapper young teacher, his style and appearance? Augustine and her beauty, pregnant, motherhood? The announcing of the birth? Life at home, French style? The young Marcel going to the classroom, his capacity for reading, precocious, his stories? Life at Marseilles, His aunt and Uncle
Jules - and the happy marriage?

6. Marcel as the oldest child, the focus of attention, the birth of Paul, the birth of their sister? Paul and Marcel and their speculating about birth, seeing the child breastfed? The birth of their cousin and expecting it to be old because of the aged parents? Talk from and about childhood?

7. The vacation, the villa, the families, travelling? The household in the country and their welcome? The contrast between city life and country life? The boys at play, the meals, occupations during the holidays? Joseph and Augustine and their delight? The apprehension by Marcel that his father would not adapt to country life?

8. Joseph and the enjoyment of the holidays, meeting the locals, playing the games and winning? The discussions with the assistant priest - and his anti-clerical stances?
Learning how to shoot, the dangers with the maid? Joseph's achievement in shooting?

9. The boys, the possibility of roaming the countryside, the trial and the accusation of their stealing his butterflies? Joseph and Jules and the hunting trip, Marcel wanting to go - without Paul? Following his father and Jules, disturbing the birds, getting lost? The encounter with 1Ali helping him? Helping his father with the two partridges? Pride, the admiration of the village, the photograph?

10. The portrait of Lili, his place in the family, their poverty, poaching,? The two boys sharing, roaming the countryside, rural life? Marcel learning the ways of the countryside and reading the countryside from Lili? His mother appreciating this? the plans to return home, his decision to run away, writing the note, wanting to be a hermit? Away with Lili, the fear of the owls, the water and the germs? The seasons, the dangers, fires, storms?

11. The return to Marseilles, his parents ignoring the note, the change of mood and work starting again?

12. The ending of the first part, atmosphere and mood? Introduction to the family, the boy, the focus and achievement of the film?