The following review was first published in 2023 when the disc was originally released. The Blu-Ray is now available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through OCN Distribution.

Based on the bestselling memoirs of French novelist, playwright, and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol (the acclaimed author of Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring), MY FATHER’S GLORY and its sequel MY MOTHER’S CASTLE recount the nostalgic memories of Marcel Pagnol’s youth growing up in Provence at the turn of the twentieth century.

During one idyllic summer, 11-year-old Marcel (Julien Ciamaca) discovers friendship and wonder amid the rocky peaks surrounding his family’s countryside home while learning new respect for his gentle and caring schoolmaster father Joseph (Philippe Caubère). Upon his return to Marseilles, Marcel longs to escape back to his beloved hills and is granted his wish when his adoring mother Augustine (Nathalie Roussel) devises a plan that allows them to visit the cottage more frequently. MY FATHER’S GLORY is an “enchanting” and “seductively scenic” (The New York Times) tribute to the lasting memories of childhood and MY MOTHER’S CASTLE is a “carefully boisterous” and “tastefully joyous” (Los Angeles Times) continuation of the beguiling story.

For thoughts on Marcel Pagnol: My Father’s Glory and My Mother’s Castle, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

Video Quality

My Father’s Glory and My Mother’s Castle make their Blu-Ray debut courtesy of Film Movement Classics with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 derived from lovely 4K restorations. Each film is given its own disc so that compression issues are completely avoided. While you may spot a fleeting blemish here or there, this transfer looks amazing with natural film grain resolved well. Overall clarity and detail are excellent with so much to explore in these beautiful landscapes. The texture present within the clothing and environment is especially impressive.

The presentation is enjoyable throughout the runtime of both films with image stability and delineation being top-notch. The colors are natural and vibrant with hues saturating the screen, especially when it comes to the foliage. Black levels hold up well with almost nothing in the way of crush, and highlights never veer into blooming. This presentation is a home run for fans who have been waiting for these films to get the appropriate level of care.

Audio Quality

This new Blu-Ray set comes with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track and an LPCM 2.0 stereo track for each film in the original French that represents them well. The surround sound track opens up the world slightly when it comes to environmental noise, but the mix cannot provide the power of the original stereo track that delivers a more enjoyable experience. These films utilize their score really well as they emanate confidently. This and all of the other music are presented with fine clarity and pleasing fidelity as they come through the room. Dialogue holds up without failure, coming through clearly without being stepped on by the music or sound effects. The environmental effects are delineated nicely without getting lost in the mix. The track avoids most major instances of age-related wear and tear or distortion. The audio experience will not let you down. Optional English subtitles are provided on this release.

Special Features

This Blu-Ray set includes a multi-page booklet featuring the essay “Marcel Pagnol: Making of a Legend” by film historian Kat Ellinger. This essay provides a great amount of context to the artist and what it means to have his life depicted on screen which makes for a wonderful read. The on-disc special features are as follows:

A Question of Tribe Featurette: A new 36-minute roundtable discussion with director Yves Robert’s son Jean-Denis Robert, grandson Martin Drescher, and cinematographer Robert Alazraki in which they reflect on Yves Robert and Marcel Pagnol, the difficulties of making the film, the filmmaker who very nearly directed these films, the characteristics of the performers, filming on location, and much more that offers great insight.

Heritage and Nostalgia Video Essay: A 20-minute video essay about My Mother’s Castle that gives some nice background on the filmmaker and writer, the themes of the feature, how it tackles real-life history, the dynamics between the characters, and much more that is well worth a watch.

Trailers: There are trailers provided for My Father’s Glory (1:40) and My Mother’s Castle (1:41).

Final Thoughts

My Father’s Glory and My Mother’s Castle provide a very heartwarming and emotional one-two punch of this young boy’s life. These stories are pretty simple and gentle as they border on a vignette style of moments that stand out in the memory of its subject. The atmosphere is unbeatable and the ensemble assembled to bring these two parts to life never hit a false note. This nostalgic look back has all of the ingredients of an amazing comfort watch. Film Movement Classics has reintroduced these films to a new audience with a brand new Blu-Ray that features a terrific A/V presentation and a couple of decent supplemental features. If you enjoy coming-of-age stories, this collection is well worth your time. Recommended

Marcel Pagnol: My Father’s Glory and My Mother’s Castle is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Film Movement Classics and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.