Main Cast: Raimu, Ginette Leclerc, Charles Moulin, Fernand Charpin, Robert Vattier, Maximilienne
Release Year: 1938
Country: FR
Run Time: 124 minutes
Plot
The Baker's Wife (La Femme de Boulanger), though based on a novel by Jean Giono, was specially tailored by writer/director Marcel Pagnol for the talents of the incomparable Raimu. The star plays the new baker in the French community of Provence. One of Raimu's first customers is shepherd Charles Moulin, who is immediately smitten by the middle-aged baker's young, toothsome wife Ginette LeClerc. In short order, Ginette runs off with Moulin, a turn of events that the stubborn Raimu refuses to acknowledge. As he grows more taciturn, he neglects his work, and soon the whole village anxiously awaits the wife's return, else they'll never see another loaf of bread. The local Marquis (Charpin) takes matters in hand by leading the townsfolk in a search party for the wayward wife. The charms of The Baker's Wife are both captivating and fragile; an attempt in 1976 to turn the property into a Broadway musical proved the fragility by ignoring the charm. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The Baker's Wife is a movie with a core of delicacy and fragility contained beneath a boisterous surface. In terms of plot, there is hardly anything special about it, but Baker is about much more than its sparse story. It's about the love, loneliness and redemption, about the power to hurt and the power to heal, and about the importance of connecting both with another person and with a group of people. Pagnol gets these themes across in a subtle manner (for the most part), so that their lessons are absorbed rather than observed by the viewer. He also creates a wonderfully realized community, full of supporting characters who are so precisely defined that they come across as living people rather than caricatures. More importantly, he has created a solid anchor around which to build the film -- and has had the good fortune of getting the invaluable Raimu to inhabit Aimable the baker. Raimu's performance is pure gold; there is never a false note, never a moment when the actor is not perfectly in tune with the character. And yet the performance never feels studied; indeed, there are moments that startle and delight by their unexpectedness. Most importantly, Raimu makes the audience feel the intense love and devotion he has for his wife and allows them to believe that he will take her back. It's a rich performance that grows in complexity with repeated viewings. Baker is a fine accomplishment on all levels, but it is Raimu's contribution which raises it to art. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Maupi - Barnabe; Odette Roger - Miette; Alida Rouffe - The priest's servant; Charles Blavette - Antonin; Edouard Delmont - Maillefer; Charles Moulton - Dominique, the Shepherd; Robert Brassac - The Schoolteacher; Julien Maffre - Petugne
Credit
Marcel Pagnol - Director, Suzanne de Troeye - Editor, Marguerite Renoir - Editor, Vincent Scotto - Composer (Music Score), N. Daries - Cinematographer, R. Lendruz - Cinematographer, Georges Benoit - Cinematographer, Hakim Brothers - Producer, Raymond Hakim - Producer, Robert Hakim - Producer, Marcel Pagnol - Screenwriter, Jean Giono - Short Story Author
