Time for fountain pens

The screening of the film “The Time of Fountain Pens” (Le Temps des porte-plumes) at the CINE FANTOM club was personally opened by director Daniel Duval. He came to directing later, having already become famous for his acting roles. This is an autobiographical film that tells the story of one year in Duvall's childhood. All his life he wanted to make such a film, but he succeeded only in 2006. At the same time, the film participated in the International Film Festival in Rome.

The action takes place in 1954. Nine-year-old Pippo is adopted by local farmers. Having first left his home due to family troubles, he ends up in a shelter. He doesn’t have time to get used to life there, and his adoptive parents take him away. Frequent changes of environment affect the boy's character: he is thoughtful and self-willed. In an atmosphere of quiet and measured village life, you have to get used to a new life and build relationships with a new family. New friends help him in this - they are so different - a former soldier, a little girl and an elderly lady. With them, he fully shows his best qualities: sincerity and kindness, he can even play pranks. The main thing is to remain yourself.

The film is truly very kind and beautiful, leaving after viewing exclusively positive emotions and a state of peace. The central idea of ​​the picture is the boy’s feelings, his experiences on the way to becoming a person.

According to Duvall, it was at this age that a tragic incident happened to him, which shaped his character and personality. Very early on he had to face problems and phenomena incomprehensible to the child’s consciousness, and therefore he often encountered misunderstanding among his peers.

I think the picture turned out exactly as intended. There is a minimum of actions, dialogues, the viewer’s attention is concentrated on the little hero, on how he perceives certain events. The cameraman managed to harmoniously convey all the beauty of the surrounding landscapes and, at the same time, not distract from the main idea of ​​the film.

Not fitting into the framework of classical cinema, the film “The Time of Fountain Pens,” like a swinging pendulum, leads the viewer from one state to another. Despite all the seriousness and psychologism, it also has funny moments, and sometimes even magical ones. Especially in the final shot, when Pippo takes off on a self-built parachute. His happiness knew no bounds at that moment. After all, children know how to be happy and sad truly sincerely, which adults, alas, have forgotten.