Emotional Rollercoaster: Robert Guédiguian’s ‘La Pie voleuse’ Stars Favorite Actors in Marseille

A Loyal Cast…

Maria is no longer young and assists people older than herself. Struggling to make ends meet, she refuses to accept her precarious situation and occasionally steals a few euros from the very people she cares for with extreme devotion… and who adore her for it. However, a complaint of exploitation will lead to Maria being taken into custody…

The story of “The Thieving Magpie” unfolds in the heart of L’Estaque in Marseille. Following the moving “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” (2011) and the equally touching “And the Party Goes On!” (2023), director Robert Guédiguian once again gathers his favorite actors in the same neighborhoods of this iconic city.

On screen, the remarkable duo of Ariane Ascaride (“The Tickles,” “No Dogs or Italians Allowed”) and Jean-Pierre Darroussin (“The Bureau,” “I Will Always See Your Faces”), as well as nearly all other cast members such as Gérard Meylan (“La French”), Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet (“A Difficult Year”), Robinson Stévenin (“The Novel of Jim”), Jacques Boudet (“Little Girl Blue”), and Lola Naymark (“The Tiger and the President”) are reinvented. The film crew was welcomed in an almost familial atmosphere: Robert Guédiguian, who had directed his first feature film and other projects in L’Estaque, explains that he now makes films for the residents of this neighborhood where he has shot extensively.

…And Breathtaking Views!

“Michel Vandestien [chief set decorator for most of Robert Guédiguian’s films, who passed away in 2024] used to say ‘sets are not just decoration.’ They mean, evoke, suggest,” explains the filmmaker. “For instance, the house of Maria and Bruno had to narrate their long love story, unemployment, and debt. They didn’t realize that capitalism was a factory of fake dreams, dreams not to live but to consume to feed the race for profit, growth… Everything on credit: a living room, a couch, a small pool, pretty and refreshing for the summer. But they can no longer maintain it, and the water stagnates like their lives.“

Despite the couple’s poverty, one constant remains in L’Estaque: the view is stunning. The different social classes coexist in homes facing the sea. Robert Guédiguian also shares that he grew up in a 30m² apartment without a toilet but with a balcony that offered an endless view of the ocean.

A Generous Thief

Maria is a generous character who dedicates herself fully to others. In her kindness, she often works extra hours without charging for them. Occasionally, she allows herself to pilfer a few euros from her employers but always in a measured way so as not to cause inconvenience. While she maintains a clear conscience despite her minor thefts, this hints at a harmless touch of madness, making her character even more endearing.

Caring towards others, she does not forget to indulge herself! Maria enjoys life’s small pleasures, such as eating oysters while listening to Rubinstein concerts. Through Maria, Robert Guédiguian claims that life cannot be reduced to mere necessities.

With “The Thieving Magpie,” the filmmaker delivers a striking portrait of human contradictions. He asserts that everyone deserves pleasure and that access to beauty is essential: “In the past, I studied the negotiations at the creation of the minimum wage between employers and unions. These negotiations were terrible because in order to determine a minimum amount, what was considered necessary or not for the workers was discussed… [T]he idea of culture or sports was not seen as necessary. It’s quite revealing. Subconsciously, Maria acts as an anarchist. The middle classes should show more solidarity towards the poorest.“

How far can one go to preserve a bit of happiness? “The Thieving Magpie” explores the struggles and dreams of modest everyday life with sensitivity. The film is now available in theaters.