Wes Anderson returns to Montblanc’s universe, focusing on writing, creativity, and travel. Montblanc continues its collaboration with Anderson, building on the unique world created last year for the 100th anniversary of the Meisterstück writing instrument. Anderson’s distinctive visual storytelling and wry wit make Montblanc a stage for imagination and playful absurdity, subverting expectations with unexpected twists and turns. Montblanc invites viewers to experience the world through the lens of creativity and humor.
The short film features a cast of frequent Wes Anderson collaborators, including Rupert Friend, Michael Cera, and Waris Ahluwalia, and welcomes emerging actor Esther McGregor. The short film, “Let’s Write, ” returns to the Montblanc Observatory High-Mountain Library, a surreal, snowbound world perched above the clouds, inhabited by a trio of mountaineers played by Anderson, Friend, and Cera. In a script that continues Anderson’s exploration of Montblanc’s deep connection to the writing culture, the cast navigates metaphysical musings, brand storytelling, and literal gift-giving with equal flair.
The new story introduces fantastical settings, notably the Montblanc Voyage of Panorama, a staged train car traversing imagined landscapes. The train car experience, in the words of Anderson’s character, demonstrates the idea of the literal, metaphorical, and poetic “journey”. The characters reflect on travel as a metaphor for introspection and imagination, each stopping a moment to pause, reconnecting with the self, and writing.
“Montblanc has such an extraordinary, rich heritage and DNA; an endless source of creative material and stories to be discovered and told. In Wes Anderson, we have found the perfect narrator, offering an original lens through which people can discover our Maison,” says Marco Tomasetta, Montblanc Artistic Director. “The campaign aims to generate a different kind of emotion that customers can experience at every touchpoint possible, reawakening their curiosity for writing and inspiring them to put pen to paper.”
Throughout the short film, Montblanc products make subtle and not-so-subtle appearances. Products featured include the new Montblanc Writing Traveler Bag, the iconic Montblanc Meisterstück, the “SCHREIBERLING” (a fountain pen designed by Anderson himself), a Portable Writing Table, and a historic Minerva pocket watch, all seamlessly woven into the narrative.
“Anderson’s style defies traditional notions of luxury storytelling. The short film will stop viewers in their tracks and likely leave a lasting imprint,” explains Stephani Radl, Montblanc Global Director of Brand Relations and Communications. Disarming audiences encourages them to interact with the brand very differently. Ultimately, they will see that besides Montblanc’s craftsmanship and design, the Maison inspires creativity in all its forms and finds new original ways to tell stories.”
To bring his vision to life, Anderson was joined by Roman Coppola, a co-director who directed additional short-form content as part of the campaign, producers Jeremy Dawson and John Peet, and director of photography Darius Khondji. Adam Stockhausen and Stephan Gessler led production design, Milena Canonero did costume design, and Babelsberg Production Group did production. In addition to the short film, the brand campaign includes a series of campaign visuals shot by Charlie Gray, with the cast joined by Montblanc Global Brand Ambassadors — Jing Boran and Xin Zhilei from China, alongside Joey King and Daniel Brühl. These visuals will be released across the campaign’s upcoming chapters.
