Aarcflick

*A Magnificent Life* is something we don't see very often: an animated biopic. In this instance, the protagonist is Marcel Pagnol—the French poet, playwright, novelist, and filmmaker. Director Sylvain Chomet—whose film *The Triplets of Belleville* (original title: *Les Triplets de Belleville*) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2004—employs beautiful, classically styled 2D animation to recount the highlights of Pagnol’s career. The film is a visual delight, yet little else. Laurent Lafitte voices Pagnol, and the story depicts how early, unexpected success as a playwright opens the door to the then-novel world of cinema. Sensing the potential to visually expand his stories beyond the confines of the stage, he decides to make the leap. His style is defined by a commitment to casting actors from various regions of France, ensuring authentic accents for the stories he wishes to tell. Eventually, Pagnol founds his own studio, where he enjoys complete creati...