My Mother's Castle (film)

Gaumont

Industry	Film production
Headquarters	Marseille , France
Products	Films

My Mother's Castle (original French title: Le château de ma mère) is a French motion picture released in 1990, directed by Yves Robert. It is an adaptation of the second installment of Marcel Pagnol's autobiographical series. This film acts as a continuation of My Father's Glory, which Robert also directed in the same year.

Plot

Taking place from the early 1900s up until the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the narrative centers on Marcel's family returning to Marseille following their summer vacation. Marcel yearns for the countryside and is delighted when they revisit the hills during Christmas. Their trip to the holiday residence near Marseille involves a combination of public transportation and a lengthy walk.

While collecting thyme for his mother, Marcel encounters Isabelle. Their budding friendship leads him to visit her unconventional family; however, Isabelle’s mother disapproves of Marcel’s appearance, while her father, a drinker of absinthe, indulges in poetry. Isabelle’s whimsical yet peculiar requests include having Marcel assume various costumes and even feeding him a grasshopper. When Marcel’s siblings inform their father about this, he forbids any further interaction with Isabelle.

During another outing, the family meets an ex-student of Marcel’s father who is employed on a canal traversing private properties. He provides them with an extra key that grants passage through locked gates along the towpath—a shortcut to their vacation home. Despite initial reservations about trespassing, Marcel’s father agrees to keep the key for emergencies. Gradually, the family adopts this route more frequently, shortening travel time and allowing for regular weekend visits. Along the way, they encounter hospitable estate owners who accept their presence.

At the beginning of summer, they find the final gate secured with a padlock and face a caretaker who has been observing their crossings and has filed an official complaint. Concerned that this could jeopardize his teaching position, Marcel's father worries about repercussions. Nevertheless, canal workers legally challenge the caretaker’s claim, leading to the complaint being withdrawn. In retaliation, the caretaker confines his dog inside the property with the key hanging around its neck.

The story concludes with a time jump of five years: Marcel's mother has passed away; his siblings Lili and Paul have died prematurely—Paul as a goatherd at age 31, and Lili during World War I in 1917. Marcel has become a prosperous film director, whose company has acquired an old estate in Marseille intended for conversion into a film studio. While exploring this property, he discovers the familiar locked door from his childhood journey and breaks it down in frustration, symbolizing closure to that challenging period.

Cast and roles

• Philippe Caubère portraying Joseph Pagnol
• Nathalie Roussel as Augustine Pagnol
• Didier Pain playing Uncle Jules
• Thérèse Liotard as Aunt Rose
• Julien Ciamaca in the role of Marcel Pagnol
• Victorien Delamare as Paul Pagnol
• Joris Molinas portraying Lili des Bellons
• Julie Timmerman as Isabelle Cassignol
• Paul Crauchet playing Edmond des Parpaillouns (Mond des Parpaillouns)
• Phillipe Uchan as Bouzigue
• Patrick Préjean portraying Dominique, the gardener
• Pierre Maguelon as François
• Michel Modo in the role of the postman
• Jean Carmet as the intoxicated guard
• Jean Rochefort portraying Adolphe Cassingol (Loïs de Montmajour)
• Georges Wilson as the count
• Ticky Holgado playing Binucci
• Jean-Marie Juan as Fenestrelle
• René Loyon portraying Mr Besson
• Jean-Pierre Darras providing narration (voice of Marcel)