On May 1, 2026 at 6:11 pm, Léa Corbet wrote an article about the documentary “Paul dans sa vie” directed by Rémi Mauger. The film focuses on the life of farmer Paul Bedel from Cap de la Hague in Manche. Despite being released in 2006, the film surpassed expectations and even outperformed the American blockbuster “Mission: Impossible III” in Cherbourg.
The return of the film to theaters after twenty years serves as an opportunity for younger audiences to discover the world of agriculture from a different era. The film still resonates with current debates surrounding agriculture, livestock models, farm succession, and the relationship with the land.
Filmed in 2003, the documentary captures the final year of Paul Bedel’s life at the age of 73 in Auderville, Cotentin. It showcases the simple daily routine of running a traditional farm without modern machinery but in harmony with nature.
Despite never seeking recognition, Paul Bedel became a symbol of peasant memory after the release of the film. He continued to share his story through books co-written with Catherine École-Boivin. Paul passed away in 2018 at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of living a rare way of life connected with the land.
The article ends with a reflection from Rémi Mauger on Paul Bedel’s impact, highlighting how his life, which he thought only served himself, ended up speaking to the world. The documentary will be screened in the Manche region on May 11 at Palace in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and on June 14 at Cinema de la Plage in Hauteville-sur-Mer.
