Faced with the insistence of his brother Joseph, whom he has not seen for 25 years, Paolo resolves to give up his calm and harmonious life in Canada, to return to Marseilles at the bedside of his rugged father. He left, therefore, with his son under his arm, determined not to linger in that city which he had fled years before, after a tragedy. He does not imagine that the affection of his newfound family, his love affair with a young woman and the joyful and simple solidarity of the Marseillais will reconcile him with this city he would never have wanted to leave...Marseillle.
Acting
Kad Merad's gruff vulnerability carries the whole film
Production
Marseille itself becomes a character—gritty, warm, impossible to leave
Director
Kad Merad
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Marseille's reputation as France's most culturally diverse city is central—the film celebrates its working-class 'quartiers' rarely seen in polished French cinema.
Kad Merad actually grew up in nearby Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria, before moving to France—his own complicated relationship with Mediterranean identity mirrors Paolo's journey.
FR
