Marius (1931) is a messy, beautiful movie about wanting to leave home

Is this movie for you?

You should definitely watch Marius if you have ever felt like your hometown was a cage. Even if that cage is a sunny bar in Marseille with cheap wine.

It is also great for people who like watching old men argue about things that don't matter. If you need explosions or fast editing, you are probably going to hate this and turn it off after ten minutes.

This isn't a movie where things happen in the way we expect now. It is more like sitting in a corner of a bar and eavesdropping on people who are making terrible decisions. ⚓

The sound of the port

The first thing you notice is the noise. It’s 1931, so the sound is all scratchy and weird, like someone is frying bacon in the back of the theater.

But that scratchy sound actually makes the port feel more real. You hear the steamships whistling and it sounds lonely.

Marius, played by Pierre Fresnay, has this look on his face every time a boat moves. It is like he’s being physically pulled toward the water by a rope.

I forgot for a second that this was a movie and not a play. Because it really feels like a play.

The camera mostly just sits there and watches people talk. Sometimes it feels a bit stiff, like the actors are afraid to walk out of the light.

That drink mixing scene

There is this one bit with Cesar, the dad, showing Marius how to mix a drink. He talks about putting in 'four thirds' of different liquids.

It is a totally ridiculous moment that goes on for a long time. But it’s so funny because they take it so seriously.

Raimu, who plays the dad, is basically a human volcano. He’s loud and big and you can almost smell the tobacco and pastis on him. 🥃

He reminds me of those characters in Appearances who are trying so hard to keep up a certain image. Except Cesar doesn't care about image, he just cares about his bar.

The Card Game

Everyone talks about the card game scene. "Tu me fends le cœur!" (You're breaking my heart!)

It’s just four guys sitting around a table cheating at cards. But the way they look at each other is so specific.

You can tell these guys have been sitting at this exact table for twenty years. They know every twitch and every lie the others tell.

The movie gets way better once you realize it's okay to just laugh at them. They are all so dramatic about everything.

It’s much more grounded than something like Captain Alvarez where everything is about big heroics. Here, the biggest drama is whether or not someone is looking at their neighbor's hand.

Fanny and the Heartbreak

Fanny is the girl next door who sells shellfish. Orane Demazis plays her with these huge, watery eyes.

She knows Marius is going to leave her eventually. You can see it in the way she holds onto him, like she’s trying to anchor a ship with a piece of string.

There is a scene where they are just talking in the street at night. It’s quiet and feels very private.

It made me think of the lonely vibes in The Isle of Conquest. That feeling of being trapped on an island, even if the island is just a city street.

Marius is kind of a jerk to her, honestly. He’s so obsessed with the sea that he doesn't see what he’s got right in front of him.

The weird imperfections

The movie is definitely too long. Some scenes go on for minutes after the point has been made.

There is one reaction shot of a guy in the background that lasts so long it becomes funny. I think he forgot the camera was still on him.

Also, the transition between scenes is sometimes just a black screen that stays there a second too long. It feels clunky.

But that’s why I like it. It doesn't feel like a polished product from a factory.

It feels like a group of friends in Marseille decided to film their favorite story. Even if the microphone was too close to the table sometimes.

The choice

The ending isn't some happy Hollywood thing like you'd find in The American Beauty. It’s heavy.

When the big ship finally starts to move, you can feel the air leave the room. The way the camera stays on the faces of the people left behind is brutal.

I found myself wondering why we always want to be somewhere else. Marius has a dad who loves him and a girl who adores him, but he wants to go to some place he’s never been.

It’s a very human kind of stupidity. 🌊

Final thoughts while the credits roll

I think I liked the dad more than the main character. Raimu is just so much fun to watch, even when he’s being mean.

The movie is old, yeah. But the feeling of wanting to run away never gets old.

It’s a bit like Applause in the way it uses sound to make you feel uncomfortable. But Marius is much warmer.

Go watch it if you have a slow afternoon. Just make sure you have a drink nearby.

It’s a movie that makes you thirsty for something. I'm just not sure if it's salt water or wine.