César

César

Year: 1936

Runtime: 141 mins

Language: French

Director: Marcel Pagnol

DramaComedy

Twenty years later the trilogy resumes as Panisse, Fanny’s husband, dies and her son Césariot discovers a long‑kept secret. Determined to locate his biological father, he embarks on a quest for Marius, whose own life has been marked by hardship and poverty, hoping to uncover the truth and find closure.

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Timeline & Setting – César (1936)

Explore the full timeline and setting of César (1936). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Marseille, Toulon

The story unfolds in the Mediterranean port towns of Marseille and Toulon, where harbor life and tight-knit neighborhoods shape daily decisions. Marseille provides the setting for family businesses, social gossip, and the public forums that test reputations. Toulon grounds the drama in working-class life, with Marius as a car mechanic connected to the harbor economy. The interaction of these locations highlights how location influences secrets and reconciliations.

🚢 Port city 🏖️ Mediterranean coast

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:38

Main Characters – César (1936)

Meet the key characters of César (1936), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Marius Ollivier — Pierre Fresnay

A proud yet warm-hearted car mechanic living in Toulon who carries the secret of his paternity. He values honesty but is cautious about how his past might disrupt the lives of Fanny, César, and Cesariot. His relationships are tempered by a sense of duty and loyalty to friends from Panisse's circle.

💡 Mature 🛠️ Working-class

Honoré Panisse — Fernand Charpin

A dying but cheerful patriarch whose long friendship with César anchors the lives around him. He is deeply devoted to his wife Fanny and to his community, and his impending death triggers a reckoning about truth and family.

🕊️ Family 🏛️ Community

Fanny Cabanis — Orane Demazis

Panisse's widow and Cesariot's mother, torn between propriety and the pull of past love. She chooses to reveal the truth at a crucial moment, shaping the future of her son's family and her own happiness.

💞 Love 🗣️ Secrets

César Ollivier — Raimu

Marius’s absent father and Panisse's old friend whose secret past and quiet dignity drive the moral weight of the story. He faces the dilemma of truth versus protection, and his presence lingers through the revelations.

👨‍👦 Family 🗝️ Secrets

Cesariot Panisse — André Fouché

Panisse and Fanny’s twenty-year-old son, curious and perceptive, who seeks truth about his origins. He acts as a catalyst for revelations and pushes his parents toward a more honest relationship.

🗺️ Identity 🗨️ Truth-seeking

L'employé de M. Panisse — Rellys

A supporting figure in the Panisse circle who observes the unfolding drama and helps move the plot through everyday interactions in the household and cafe life.

🧰 Service 🗨️ Observant

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:38

Major Themes – César (1936)

Explore the central themes of César (1936), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love vs Propriety

The film centers on a romance that resurfaces across time and social boundaries. Fanny and Marius must navigate past hurt, family expectations, and the consequences of revealing a long-buried truth. Propriety and reputation are weighed against personal happiness, driving tensions between secrecy and honesty.

🕵️‍♂️ Secrets & Truth

A hidden paternity and concealed feelings propel the plot forward. The revelation about Césariot's father—Marius—upends carefully maintained façades. Characters wrestle with who deserves to know the truth and when it should be told.

⚖️ Societal Pressure

Rumors, gossip, and communal expectations shape the actions of Panisse's family and Marius. The characters confront the weight of small-town judgment in choosing whom to love and how to live. The narrative shows how social norms can constrain personal choices.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:38

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César Summary

Read a complete plot summary of César, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

César Summary

César Timeline

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César Timeline

More About César

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