This engaging  and true story  about  Joseph Ferdinand Cheval ,a 19th century country postman,  who walked 32 kilometres daily to deliver the mail in the mountains of Drome, was a pleasure to watch.  Cheval, superbly acted by well known French actor Jacques Gamblin (unrecognizable  with his wide moustache  and a false nose), is awkward and silent. When his first wife dies the family sends his surviving small son to live with relatives knowing that Cheval probably could not take care of him. Joseph is now left profoundly on his own taciturn and living as a hermit.

—–

He, however,  does have his dreams, inspired by the beauty of of the land , the trees, and nature itself, and by the postcards and magazines given to him by his supervisor, with pictures of strange palaces in far distant lands. One day, on his rounds he encounters Philomene, played by the well known beautiful model and actress, Laetitia Casta, who tends to  a  small injury he has on his neck and shoulder. So begins a new chapter late in his life. He marries Philomena and they  have a baby girl Alice, whom he adores in his own private and inarticulate way.

—–

Discovering love and fatherhood leads Cheval to the building of the the fantasy palace (Palais Ideal) for his daughter Alice (played by Zelie Rixhon).

—–

Read more about the true story of Cheval and Palais Ideal on Wikipedia . You may want to visit  this incredible structure and museum if you are ever travelling through France!