Not having read this book, I can't comment specifically on the comparison, but in my experience, it's usually the case. Very few movies come near the books they were based on. Anyway, it's a great movie. Maybe I'll read the book one day.
shareOkay...
You are talking about Marcel Pagnol, clearly one of the best French writers of his time (luckily French is my mother language). When you take a book that is nothing less than a masterpiece, of course you're up for quite a challenge. The fact Pagnol's book was a masterpiece doesn't change the fact that this movie is a real jewel. But perhaps I am partial, for I have been in the very region the movie was shot many times...
Apples and oranges.
shareOf course the books are better, Marcel Pagnol was a national treasure to France and no movie could translate 100 percent the beauty of his words on paper but I taught that the films had the merit to pay tribute to a great man , and they did a wonderfull Job at this.
shareHere are my two cents; if possible, always see the movie before reading the book. Since the latter are usually much better than the former, you at least get a chance to judge the movie on its own rights that way.
And yes, no surprise that the book is better here, for the reasons the people above me have said. A national treasure, indeed.
Keep flying, son. And watch that potty mouth!