The Baker's Wife (film)

The Baker's Wife (French: La femme du boulanger) is a 1938 French drama film directed by Marcel Pagnol. It is based on the novel Blue Boy by French author Jean Giono and became the basis of the American musical The Baker's Wife.

The Baker's Wife
One of French theatrical release posters
Directed byMarcel Pagnol
Screenplay byMarcel Pagnol
Based onBlue Boy
1932 novel
by Jean Giono
Produced byCharles Pons
StarringRaimu
Ginette Leclerc
Fernand Charpin
CinematographyGeorges Benoît
Edited bySuzanne de Troeye
Music byVincent Scotto
Production
company
Les Films Marcel Pagnol
Release date
  • 7 September 1938 (1938-09-07)
Running time
133 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench

It tells how the peace of a Provençal village is shattered when the baker's wife runs off with a handsome shepherd. In his despair, the baker becomes heartbroken and can no longer bake. The villagers organise themselves to bring the wife back to her husband and so regain their daily bread.

Plot

One summer night in an idyllic village in the south of France, the pretty young wife of the baker runs off with her lover, a handsome young shepherd. Finding her gone in the morning, the baker is devastated. He pretends she has had to go suddenly to her mother, but people are not fooled and their efforts at consoling him misfire. Going into Sunday mass, he is deeply upset at what seems an unfeeling sermon from the inexperienced young priest and heads for the café, where he gets publicly drunk on pastis.

The marquis, who is the local landowner, and the schoolteacher take the situation in hand. Getting the baker to bed, with the support of the priest they call a public meeting to discuss solutions. Dividing the area into twelve sectors, twelve patrols mount an exhaustive search and one reports a sighting. She was seen by an angler in a glade with the shepherd, naked. The priest and the schoolteacher are chosen for the delicate task of persuading her to return. The shepherd makes off fast and the priest takes her to a quiet place, while the schoolteacher returns with the good news that she is found.

After the priest has read her the story of Jesus and the woman taken in adultery, he forgives her and takes her home. Her first word to her husband is "Sorry" and he forgives her too, though he can't resist a few choice words about randy young shepherds who charm you, love you and leave you. Together they light the oven, so that the village will have bread in the morning.

Cast

Awards

Restoration

The film was restored by the company Hiventy, in full 4K, from the negative 35mm nitrate original, supervised by the filmmaker's grandson Nicolas Pagnol and Guillaume Schiffman.[1][2] There is a Region B blu-ray edition available.[3]

References
  1. "La femme du boulanger". Hiventy - Your preferred technical partner. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  2. La version restaurée de "La femme du boulanger" en avant-première mondiale à Aubagne [Interview with Nicolas Pagnol, the grandson of Marcel Pagnol], archived from the original on 13 December 2021, retrieved 19 December 2018, Nicolas Pagnol, the grandson of Marcel Pagnol, tells us why he is happy that this event takes place in Aubagne. He also explains the meticulous process of restoration that has given new life to his grandfather's work.
  3. Blu-Ray - La Femme du boulanger - Marcel Pagnol - Version Restaurée Inédite, retrieved 19 December 2018
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