MARIUS
US Premiere • Drama, Romance • France, 2013
DCP • 1.85 • Dolby 5.1 • Color • 93 min
Directed by: Daniel Auteuil
Written by: Daniel Auteuil, based on the play by Marcel Pagnol
Cinematography: Jean-Francois Robin
Film Editing: Joëlle Hache
Original Score: Alexandre Desplat
Produced by: Alain Sarde (A.S. Films), Jérôme Seydoux (Pathé)
Cast: Daniel Auteuil (César), Victoire Belezy (Fanny), Jean-Pierre Darroussin (Panisse), Raphaël Personnaz (Marius), Marie-Anne Chazel (Honorine).
International Sales: Pathé Distribution • patheinternational.com
US Distributor: Kino Lorber
US Release date: Summer 2014
Coming off the success of The Well-Digger’s Daughter, Daniel Auteuil takes a much bigger bite of the directorial apple with his remake of Marcel Pagnol’s Marseille Trilogy. The first installment, Marius, sets the stage in the colorful 1920s Old Port of Marseille. Marius works at his father César’s bar, but longs to see the world aboard one of the merchant ships that come through port. As much as he loves the idea of adventure, he also pines for the fishmonger’s beautiful daughter Fanny, without knowing that she harbors secret feelings of love for him too. When Panisse, an aging, heirless, no-nonsense widower declares his intention to wed Fanny and make a son to take over his thriving sail manufacturing business, Fanny and Marius are forced to make decisions.
It was as an actor that writer/director Daniel Auteuil first interpreted the world of playwright, novelist and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol, having arrived on the international stage playing the conniving farmer Ugolin in the 1986 film adaptations of the Pagnol novels Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring. Since then, Auteuil has been recognized the world over for his range and appeal as an actor, appearing in such seminal films as My Favorite Season (1993), Queen Margot (1994 – COLCOA 2014) and Caché (2005) written and directed by Michael Haneke. In 2011, Auteuil dipped into the Pagnol oeuvre again, adapting another novel for his directorial debut, The Well-Digger’s Daughter (COLCOA 2012). The Marseille Trilogy on which Marius and Fanny are based, were originally theater pieces. Pagnol himself, who would go on to his own screenwriting and directing career, produced the first filmed version in 1932. There were two subsequent filmed adaptations, including a Preston Sturges written 1938 version, and of course, the 1961 classic starring Charles Boyer and Maurice Chevalier. Auteuil’s adaptations, shot simultaneously, remain faithful to the original texts. COLCOA is pleased to present the official U.S. Premieres of Marius and Fanny as a double feature.
“Superbly performed and polished romantic drama.”
- Jordan Mintzer HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
“Marius is a lovingly crafted piece of cinema that will doubtless arouse a resurgence of interest in Marcel Pagnol's oeuvre around the world.”
- James Travers FILMSDEFRANCE
“Personnaz (…) is beautifully teamed with Bélézy, the pair of them always hitting the right note of romance without tipping into schmaltz or silliness.”
- Amber Wilkinson EYE FOR FILM
