The Mystery of Henri Pick (2019)

An editor discovers a novel that she considers to be a masterpiece, in a library whose particularity is to collect the manuscripts refused by the publishers. The text is signed Henri Pick, a Breton pizza maker who died two years earlier.

Director:

Rémi Bezançon

Writers:

Rémi Bezançon (dialogue), Rémi Bezançon (screenplay)

Stars:

Fabrice Luchini, Camille Cottin, Alice Isaaz

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fabrice Luchini	...	Jean-Michel Rouche
Camille Cottin	...	Joséphine Pick
Alice Isaaz	...	Daphné Despero
Bastien Bouillon	...	Fred Koskas
Josiane Stoléru	...	Madeleine Pick
Astrid Whettnall	...	Inès de Crécy
Marc Fraize	...	Jean-Pierre Gourvec
Hanna Schygulla	...	Ludmila Blavitsky
Marie-Christine Orry	...	Magali Roze, la bibliothécaire
Vincent Winterhalter	...	Gérard Despero
Florence Muller	...	Brigitte Rouche
Philypa Phoenix	...	Wendy Bellamy
Lyès Salem	...	Producteur émission Infinitif
Tristan Carné	...	Réalisateur émission Infinitif
Annie Mercier	...	Bénédicte Le Floch

Storyline

An editor discovers a novel that she considers to be a masterpiece, in a library whose particularity is to collect the manuscripts refused by the publishers. The text is signed Henri Pick, a Breton pizza maker who died two years earlier.

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Plot Keywords:

tv broadcast | television broadcast | watching tv | watching television | novel | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Did You Know?

Quotes

Magali Roze, la bibliothécaire: The pain of others is easy to bear.

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Connections

Features The 39 Steps (1935)

User Reviews

an intellectual mystery and a guilty pleasure in one

There's a library in a French provincial town that holds the manuscripts refused by the publishers. Among those lies a book of gold - a novel that resonates with the public and becomes a bestseller. The author is Henri Pick - a man who hadn't been seen writing or reading a novel in his life time. When famous literary critic (Fabrice Luchini) claims Henri Pick had not actually written the book the public is enraged. As a result he loses his tv job and his marriage. It is now an obsession for him to prove he was right and he embarks on a hilarious journey to find the truth.

Fabrice Luchini is fantastic in the main role of literary critic gone astray, the role feels written specifically for him. If the film was made in the 80's the role could be played by Pierre Richard. Just like Richard, Luchini has a perfect balance of hilarious and dramatic and the film draws on this talent in every frame he is in.

Part intellectual mystery, part comedy, part love story, part a serious dwelling on what it means to be an artist THE MYSTERY OF HENRI PICK is almost a perfect movie. In a country where 90% of people read extensively and 70% attempt to write the next great French novel the film exist in a parallel universe from most overseas viewers. Who cares about a book unless it's Game Of Thrones or Harry Potter? But this suspension of disbelief is easy to overcome with engaging characters and quirky dialog.

The script is focused, inventive and delivers a perfect ending. It definitely tricked me. Supported by a cheeky and slightly frantic score from a young (but also a veteran in his own way) French musician Laurent Perez Del Mar, THE MYSTERY OF HENRY PICK is the best French Cinema has to offer. As much tongue in the cheek as it is serious, this is an intellectual mystery and a guilty pleasure in one!

Details

Country:

France Belgium

Language:

French Russian

Release Date:

6 March 2019 (France)

Also Known As:

The Mystery of Henri Pick

Filming Locations:

Pont de Térénez, Rosnoën, Finistère, France

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,342,896

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mandarin Films, Gaumont, France 2 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1