Critic Reviews

Despite what sounds, and sometimes plays out, like a working-class soap opera, Pagnol’s genius is evident in the way emotions are often distilled through the characters’ winsome Southern attitudes, creating an atmosphere infused with playful humor, innate wit and an endless flow of alcohol.

Strong performances, warmth and light comedy abound, even if it is a bit stagey.

The material is a French classic, and Auteuil directs as such: this is cosy, undemanding heritage cinema.

Daniel Auteuil's less exercising diligent homage than indulging troglodytic cinephilia.

It’s not entirely clear what this faithful, slightly creaky new rendering, adapted and directed by the actor Daniel Auteuil, has to offer.

Auteuil doesn't distance himself enough from the era to allow room for critique. As a result, the old-fashioned attitudes on display are accepted with open arms rather than reckoned with.

A lot of the story’s emotional shifts seem designed expressly to prolong the narrative, which is pretty darn skimpy.

Not just cinéma de papa, but cinema de grand-papa.