 The
Provence of Marcel Pagnol
The French writer and film director,
Marcel Pagnol, often featured the Provençal countryside and
way of life in his numerous works.
As a youngster, he spent much time in the quiet hills of the
Chaîne de L'Etoile, just north of Marseille. This land never
ceased to inspire his many books and films and he always depicted
Provence and its inhabitants with considerable warmth and affection.
The village of La Treille is typical of the Provence of Marcel
Pagnol. The restaurant "Le Cigalon" is featured in some of Pagnol's
films and it contains artefacts and memorabilia from his works.
The fountain in La Treille was also used in Jean de Florette
and Manon Des Sources, films based on his books.
Pagnol had ambitious plans to make Provence a centre for film-making,
able to rival Paris or even Hollywood. Some of the film sets
still exist, like the ruined village of Aubignane, made especially
for his film Regain (Revival). The elaborate set even incorporated
a village church and a bakery. Pagnol was a master at capturing
the spirit and character of the people of Provence and conveying
this in beautifully written prose. He remains forever associated
with Provence.
Links
Sights in Provence and a good insight into Marcel Pagnol's Provence. In English, with a detailed account of the film director's life.
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