Wes Anderson Journeys Through the Alpines with Montblanc

In an ode to creativity and travel, Montblanc have partnered with Wes Anderson for the second year running. The new short film “Let’s Write” has Anderson returning to the Montblanc Observatory High-Mountain library, with a few new additions to the cast.  

Anderson himself is joined by Rupert Friend and Michael Cera, with the three taking on the role of mountaineers as they journey through a wood-panelled office, festive living room and trek across heavy snow. For his second collaboration with the brand, the renowned director has built on the theme of “journeys” introducing the Montblanc Voyage of Panorama, a staged train car which takes the three stars from white-tipped landscapes to the desert and beyond.

Similarly to his last feature for Montblanc, we begin in an office with Anderson and Friend in a mid-century office, joined this year by Michael Cera. As expected from any Wes Anderson project, there’s no shortage of stylised shots and witticisms as the camera drops down to a living room decorated for Christmas, where the director plugs his own creation: Montblanc’s “SCHREIBERLING” fountain pen.

Moving outside, a Montblanc flag claims Anderson’s fantasy world as its own. With a quip from Cera, the travellers board a single suspended train carriage and head off on a static journey around the world. Through Venice, Egypt, and back into the mountains, Friend makes clear the meaning behind ‘journeying in place’—just in case you missed it—he explains: “It symbolises the metaphorical journey, I suppose.” 

The theme is likewise introduced in Anderson’s signature sardonic tone, all whilst deconstructing the fourth wall. As the director says, Montblanc’s latest campaign represents: “A transformative, slow-paced journey of—unhurried maybe is better—unhurried journey of self-discovery and aspiration.” 

Montblanc’s own team takes a starring role in a complementary set of images shot by Charlie Gray. Global Brand Ambassadors Jing Born and Xin Zhilei are joined in Anderson’s carriage by Joey King and Daniel Brühl. Roman Coppola, too, is on board, joining Anderson as co-director for the campaign.  

The Maison hope the collaboration will inspire a new audience to embrace the tactile magic of the written word. Marco Tomasetta, Montblanc’s Artistic Director, says: “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.” 

It’s an unconventional approach for a longstanding name in luxury to take. But that’s exactly what Montblanc wanted to achieve with the campaign. Their Global Director for Brand Relations explains: “By disarming audiences, it encourages them to interact with the brand very differently. Ultimately, they will see that the Maison is about inspiring creativity in all its forms and finding new original ways to tell stories.” 

Introducing Anderson’s talent for off-beat storytelling to the Montblanc brand seems a sure way to create something original—it’s no wonder then that he’s been brought back following the success of last year’s campaign. For the 100th anniversary of the Meiserstück pen, Anderson invited us into the High-Mountain library; this time he, Friend and newcomer Cera venture outside to take on the world—one elegantly scrawled postcard at a time.  

Collect your ticket to Wes Anderson x Montblanc’s latest escape here.