Film Still from Le Temps des Secrets
Marcel Pagnol is one of my favourite writers I have read all his books, Manon des Sources and Jean de Florette has to be one of the greatest stories ever told and for me it is definitely up there with the greats. He is highly regarded in France, his portrayals of life in Provence have been the inspiration for many people to pack their bags and see it for themselves.
Pagnol with his second wife, Jacqueline Bouvier
Over Christmas, whilst staying at Belle Meres, we were treated to a Pagnol double bill on French TV; Le Temps des Secrets, Le Temps des Amours/The Time of Secrets, The Time of Love. It is the memoires of Pagnol as a boy and young man growing up in Provence, it was beautiful and some of the scenery shots moved me to tears. I can only find it on French Amazon and it is not available with English subtitles.
Available here
There are two other fabulous films based on Pagnols early Memoires; La Gloire de mon Pere, Le Chateau de ma Mere/My Fathers Glory, My Mothers Castle, they are available in most countries and with a selection of subtitles.
