Short story competitions, writing workshops, screening of “La Gloire de mon Père”, “Le Château de ma Mère” and “Le Temps des secrets”, guided tours in the hills in the heart of the natural settings of Yves Robert's films and Christophe Barratier, meeting with specialists in the work of Marcel Pagnol, all for the month of February alone... The commune of Allauch (Bouches-du-Rhône), 22,000 inhabitants, won most of the tribute to the emblematic Provençal writer and filmmaker on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of his death.
A hard blow for Marseille which has already lost the sets of the Place du Mistral of “Plus belle la vie, even plus belle” on TF 1, also recovered by its small neighbor which also announces construction by 2026 – out of 1,300 m2 in a former electrical factory from the beginning of the 20th century – the only museum dedicated to the life and work of an author whose popularity has not waned over time.
“Marcel Pagnol has a history that intimately links him to Allauch, particularly in the hills of his childhood memories which served as settings for the film adaptations.
We couldn't miss it, summarizes the mayor, Lionel De Cala.
We have seven events in February, but also an exhibition in the old village from April 18, the date of Marcel Pagnol's death, and a summer program.
As for the museum, it will be the flagship of its cultural heritage.
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The grandson, Nicolas Pagnol, quarreled with Marseille town hall
Even if other municipalities such as Aubagne, his birthplace, or La Ciotat, will participate in this year of tribute, Allauch also benefits from the quarrel between the Marseille town hall and the academician's grandson, Nicolas Pagnol , since the latter was ousted last June from the management of the Château de La Buzine, the famous “castle of my mother”, in the Valentine district of Marseille, transformed into a municipal cultural center.
“I am delighted with the abundance of tributes in Provence, but also at the cinematheque in Paris or at the La Rochelle cinema festival,” appreciates Nicolas Pagnol.
This shows that the French are very attached to my grandfather's work.
But Marseille has excluded itself from this year of official tributes, I have withdrawn all representation rights at the town hall.
She will do what she has the right to do!
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Also read Marseille: on the Old Port, Pagnol told by Pagnol
“We have legal advice to see what we can propose based on the rights that Nicolas Pagnol is depriving not of the city but of all the people of Marseille,” comments Jean-Marc Coppola, deputy for culture at Marseille town hall.
Marcel Pagnol belongs to the Marseillais, the Provençaux, the French and even beyond.
Obviously, we will pay tribute to him.
We will be unveiling a full citywide program in February that will kick off in April.
Marcel Pagnol will be celebrated at La Buzine, but also in libraries, at the Alcazar and elsewhere..."
The city of Marseille also pre-empted the Le César cinema, opened by Marcel Pagnol in 1938 at Place Castellane and liquidated last November, in order to maintain a “cinematographic and commercial” activity there.