Montblanc Marks 100 Years of Meisterstück through the Eyes of Wes Anderson

With its black cigar-shaped design, three gold rings and handcrafted gold nib, the Meisterstück has become synonymous with Montblanc as the Maison’s most recognisable product. To mark a century since this global symbol of writing culture was first introduced in 1924, Montblanc has partnered with American director and screenwriter Wes Anderson to create a campaign that takes viewers on a journey into the extraordinary world of Montblanc seen through the filmmaker’s eyes.

Featuring actors Rupert Friend, Jason Schwartzman, and Wes Anderson himself, the story follows three colourful characters at the fictional Montblanc Headquarters atop the Mont Blanc mountain, as they introduce the Maison, its story and its most recognised creation, as never seen before, in Anderson’s signature style with its distinctive visual aesthetic and blend of eccentric, unconventional storytelling. To truly celebrate the collaboration with Wes and the Meisterstück anniversary, the new campaign’s influence will be embraced throughout Montblanc’s marketing approach during this centenary year.

“For 100 years, the Meisterstück has captured millions of stories, passing through the hands of authors, creatives, and everyday writers. It was finally time to make this writing icon the protagonist of the story, but we wanted to do it in a way that was completely unexpected and surprising. That’s why we invited Wes Anderson, one of today’s great storytellers, to put his own unique spin on the world of Montblanc through his inimitable storytelling and unmistakable visual identity. It’s certainly a very different way for our Maison to show up, and we are excited for the world to rediscover us in a new light,” explains Vincent Montalescot, Montblanc chief marketing and merchandising officer.

The film is packed with sophisticated wit and filled with both subtle and not-so-subtle references to the Maison’s DNA and its luxury companions: the mountain setting in the opening scene is a reference to the company’s name and emblem that represents the snow-capped peak of the Mont Blanc, the imaginary Montblanc Observatory High-Mountain Library is a nod to the brand’s recent Library Spirit campaign that spotlights the inspirational power of libraries and Montblanc’s connection to the universe of words, and the desk is the place where the magic of writing and creation happens.

While the characters introduce the ‘fountain pen designed over 100 years ago for the adventurous traveller’ and debate its qualities, the Meisterstück isn’t the only product to get a role in the film. Watches and leather goods also make an appearance, an insight into the multi-category nature of Montblanc.

Sat at a desk in the Writing Room, the characters put pen to paper reminding viewers of the joy and value of handwriting, whether a journal entry, a letter or even a novel. During their lively conversation, the characters playfully call out the brand’s various campaigns and taglines, closing with an invitation to re-discover the experience of writing by hand: Let’s Write.

To bring his vision to life, Wes joined forces with his longstanding creative partners: Roman Coppola who acted as a producer and co-director, producers Jeremy Dawson and John Peet, Stephan Gessler as supervising art director and Academy Award-winning director of photography, Linus Sandgren.

In addition to the film, Rupert Friend, American actress Maude Apatow, Indian-American actor and designer Waris Ahluwalia, Korean actor and Montblanc Mark Maker Lee Jinuk and Chinese actor and Montblanc Global Brand Ambassador Jing Boran inhabit this reimagined Montblanc universe in a series of campaign visuals captured by Charlie Gray and in a series of short videos.