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A Magnificent Life

Play trailer Poster for A Magnificent Life 2025 1h 30m Animation Biography Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 10 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
In 1955, Marcel Pagnol was over sixty and had just ended a prolific film career to return to his childhood love, the theatre. But his last two plays had suffered two resounding failures in quick succession. He is beginning to doubt the public's interest in his work, and thinks it might be time to make way for the younger generation. During a friendly dinner, the editor-in-chief of ELLE magazine commissioned him to write a weekly literary serial about his childhood, his Provence, his first loves. A few days later, when the ELLE messenger came to ask him for the famous pages at the beginning of his story, Monsieur Pagnol rushed to write them. He realized that his childhood memories were escaping him.

Critics Reviews

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Peter Debruge Variety Chomet honors the man’s achievements but fails to convey why those who don’t already possess some level of fascination with Pagnol should care. Jun 9, 2025 Full Review Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com Chomet is careful to avoid overt melodrama. He’s made a film that’s reverential of a smart, artistic man, but doesn’t place him on too high a pedestal for us to see him. May 21, 2025 Full Review Frank Scheck The Hollywood Reporter f its storytelling proves more rudimentary, hewing closely to the stylistic formula endemic to the genre, the ample visual pleasures prove their own reward. May 20, 2025 Full Review Pete Hammond Deadline Hollywood Daily It’s not exactly Super Mario Bros-family friendly, but Chomet’s stunning hand drawn animation with its lovely Stefano Bollani musical score gives new reason to celebrate Pagnol and this maginificent life. Jun 11, 2025 Full Review Savina Petkova The Film Stage Chomet’s film is an edifying, educating piece of work, beautifully drawn and composed; having versions of it dubbed in both French and in English will surely help it reach a wider audience. May 24, 2025 Full Review Eulàlia Iglesias Caimán Cuadernos de Cine It's hard to imagine whether the film will find viewers beyond the French audience, the veterans who still remember the author of The Glory of My Father (1957), and admirers of Sylvain Chomet's more analog-style animation. [Full review in Spanish] May 22, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Sylvain Chomet

Director

Laurent Lafitte

Marcel Pagnol

Géraldine Pailhas

Augustine Pagnol

Sylvain Chomet

Screenwriter

Ashargin Poiré

Producer

Lilian Eche

Producer
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A Magnificent Life

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1955, Marcel Pagnol was over sixty and had just ended a prolific film career to return to his childhood love, the theatre. But his last two plays had suffered two resounding failures in quick succession. He is beginning to doubt the public's interest in his work, and thinks it might be time to make way for the younger generation. During a friendly dinner, the editor-in-chief of ELLE magazine commissioned him to write a weekly literary serial about his childhood, his Provence, his first loves. A few days later, when the ELLE messenger came to ask him for the famous pages at the beginning of his story, Monsieur Pagnol rushed to write them. He realized that his childhood memories were escaping him.
Director
Sylvain Chomet
Producer
Ashargin Poiré, Lilian Eche, Valérie Puech, Aton Soumache
Screenwriter
Sylvain Chomet
Production Co
What The Prod, Picture Box, Bidibul Productions
Genre
Animation, Biography, Drama
Original Language
French
Runtime
1h 30m