My Father's Glory (film)

My Father's Glory

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	1990
Founder	Yves Robert
Products	Film adaptation of Marcel Pagnol's autobiographical work
Parent	Gaumont

My Father's Glory (original French title: French: La Gloire de mon père) is a French motion picture from 1990, directed by Yves Robert. It is a cinematic adaptation of Marcel Pagnol's autobiographical work My Father's Glory. The film's follow-up, also helmed by Robert in the same year, is titled My Mother's Castle (), with both movies drawing from Pagnol's literary series.

Plot

The narrative unfolds between 1900 and the onset of the First World War, focusing on young Marcel who, although born in a rural area, is brought up in Marseilles. His father Joseph, an atheist and schoolteacher, frequently finds himself at odds with his wife's brother-in-law, Uncle Jules, a devout Roman Catholic.

During a summer vacation in Provence, Uncle Jules proposes to instruct Joseph in hunting. Marcel, initially left out, secretly trails them and observes Jules demonstrating his hunting prowess, thereby embarrassing Joseph. When Marcel becomes lost, he encounters Lili, a local boy who helps him reunite with the hunting group, where Marcel surprises everyone by presenting two partridges he has shot.

Lili serves as Marcel’s companion and guide through the countryside as they explore together. Near the end of their holiday, Marcel devises a plan to seclude himself in a cave as a hermit. On the day of departure, he leaves a note explaining his intended disappearance but soon feels lonely and returns home to prevent his parents from discovering the letter. Although Marcel assumes his parents have not read it, their remarks suggest otherwise. The film closes with Marcel’s family leaving while Lili watches them go.

Cast and roles

• Philippe Caubère as Joseph Pagnol
• Nathalie Roussel as Augustine Pagnol
• Didier Pain portraying Uncle Jules
• Thérèse Liotard as Aunt Rose
• Julien Ciamaca playing 11-year-old Marcel Pagnol
  • Benoît Martin as young Marcel
• Victorien Delamare as Paul Pagnol
• Joris Molinas in the role of Lili de Bellons
• Paul Crauchet as Edmond des Parpaillouns (Mond des Parpaillouns)
• Pierre Maguelon playing François
• Michel Modo as the postman
• Jean Rougerie portraying Bergougnas, the antique dealer
• Jean-Pierre Darras providing the voice narration of Marcel
• Victor Garrivier as la Treille's bishop
• Raoul Curet as Mr Vincent
• Maxime Lombard in the role of Mr Arnaud
• Michèle Loubet as Miss Guimard, the schoolmistress
• René Loyon playing Mr Besson
• Anik Danis as the maid
• Andrée Damant portraying a woman

Reception

Upon release, the film secured the top position at the Paris box office, earning 4.8 million Francs (approximately $930,000) from 163,270 ticket sales.

See also

• Souvenirs d'enfance
• My Father's Glory, the source novel
• My Mother's Castle, its sequel