This is a movie for those who enjoy magic and nostalgia while floating away in childhood memories. It is the calm and enchanting story of the adventures of Marcel Pagnol. Julien Ciamaca does an outstanding job, he is handsome, naive and buoyant. The landscape and the narrative style make this movie, at least in my eyes, a real masterpiece. The entire story is full of nostalgia and deals with Marcel's very own perception of life. His friendship with Lili is honestly depicted and wonderfully staged. The boys do a great job, indeed. It is a tale that takes you back to contemporary France and revives the summer in the Provence region, a summer full of innocent joy and adventures. Inspiring and well-acted, the setting is beautiful and the music just perfect. All characters are well cast.

A young boy's life in turn-of-the-century France. Marcel witnesses the success of his teacher father, as well as the success of his arrogant Uncle Jules. Marcel and family spend their summer vacation in a cottage in Provence, and Marcel befriends a local boy who teaches him the secrets of the hills in Provence.

What strikes me about this film, early on, is the socialist teacher speaking such blasphemy as a 10-hour day and 6-day work week. The way the children react is pretty amusing, especially when we look back in hindsight. If I am not mistaken, the French have even more lenient working laws than America does.

I really enjoyed this film tremendously. There were no grand special effects, dazzling action or exciting twists--just unbelievably beautiful film-making! This is a biographical tale based on the childhood of the great French director/writer Marcel Pagnol. In fact, it is because of my love of his films that I sought out this videotape. If you have not seen the Fanny trilogy (or the single film by the same title starring Leslie Caron),The Baker's Wife, Harvest, Manon of the Spring or any of his other films, try to see them!! What makes all these films so wonderful is the superb writing and how his characters come to life. They are charming, full of foibles and yet quite lovable! And this is definitely true in this movie as well.

Despite the occasionally mundane plot, you find yourself so wrapped up in their lives and caring for what happens to them. This is a truly magical film. I might have given this film a 10 had I not seen the sequel as well--the sequel is so much better and a MUST-SEE that I cannot rate this film quite as highly.