Marseille

Paolo gives up his placid life in Canada to answer his brother Joseph's call. After 25 years apart, he heads back to Marseille with his son in tow to be by his ailing father and to reckon with a past he'd rather forget. He hopes for a quick visit and a clean exit, but the city and the family he encounters pull him deeper. A budding romance and the everyday solidarity of the Marseille locals soften his guard, inviting him to reconsider the town he fled after a tragedy. What begins as a stopover gradually becomes a chance to rebuild belonging. The longer he stays, the more Marseille opens as a living invitation rather than a memory for him.

Directed by Kad Merad, Marseille 2016 is a French drama comedy built from ideas by Patrick Bosso and Judith El Zein, and anchored by Kad Merad's grounded lead performance alongside a lively ensemble including Patrick Bosso, Judith El Zein, Venantini and Anne Charrier.

The film centers on themes of homecoming, family, and reinvention, balancing humor with warmth as Paolo reconnects with loved ones and rediscovers Marseille. It respects ordinary lives and small acts of kindness, inviting viewers to reflect on how roots can shape who we become and how cities welcome return.

Set against Marseille's sunlit harbors and bustling neighborhoods, the film uses its setting as more than scenery. The cast's approachable chemistry and local flavor offer a snapshot of everyday life, highlighting resilience and neighborly support as a kind of cultural heartbeat that lingers after the credits.

Box office figures for Marseille 2016 have not been publicly disclosed, making it difficult to compare its commercial performance to bigger French dramas. The film seems to have found a modest audience through small screen and international festival circuits, rather than wide release.