For those of you English-only speakers who don't like sitting through foreign language films with either their dubbing or having to read subtitles, retain an open mind. Rent "Jean de Florette" and its second part "Manon of the Spring" tonight. Sit back and relax, and you will have more than just the wind knocked out of you from this cinematic masterpiece. The late Gene Siskel, bless his soul, placed these films on his top ten list for the year of 1987. The American Academy completely ignored these films; the British Academy awarded "Jean de Florette / Manon of the Spring" Best Film of the year.
You will find tears coming to your eyes simply from seeing the stunning beauty of the French countryside and the farming life. It'll make city dwellers long to breath the fresh country air! You will be captivated by all the very unique characters brilliantly portrayed by the actors. A "hunchback" played by good old Gerard Depardieu is full of love for life and his veins are afire with excitement for putting into practice some innovative ideas about farming. But, little does he know that his neighbours, pretending to be friendly, are filled with greed and jealousy, and are plotting and scheming against him behind his back. Part 1: "Jean de Florette" ends tragically, but just wait till you see the sun of justice gradually rise in Part 2: "Manon of the Spring".
At the end of "Jean de Florette", the "hunchback's" daughter overhears the neighbours talking and realises that they were scheming against their family the whole time and sabotaged their farming. In "Manon of the Spring", she has grown up, having kept to herself over the years. But she comes across farming neighbours talking about what happened in the past and she can no longer let them go unpunished. She burns up inside. What makes matters worse is that one of the neighbours that conspired against her father falls in love with her and chases her through the countryside, shouting, "Je t'aime! Je t'aime!" ("I love you! I love you!"). The film ends with a series of shocking revelations that the viewer could never have guessed. The plot comes full circle and couldn't be more ironically perfect!
Your soul will be left glowing. These movies will shower you with gold. (10 out of 10 for both films)
You will find tears coming to your eyes simply from seeing the stunning beauty of the French countryside and the farming life. It'll make city dwellers long to breath the fresh country air! You will be captivated by all the very unique characters brilliantly portrayed by the actors. A "hunchback" played by good old Gerard Depardieu is full of love for life and his veins are afire with excitement for putting into practice some innovative ideas about farming. But, little does he know that his neighbours, pretending to be friendly, are filled with greed and jealousy, and are plotting and scheming against him behind his back. Part 1: "Jean de Florette" ends tragically, but just wait till you see the sun of justice gradually rise in Part 2: "Manon of the Spring".
At the end of "Jean de Florette", the "hunchback's" daughter overhears the neighbours talking and realises that they were scheming against their family the whole time and sabotaged their farming. In "Manon of the Spring", she has grown up, having kept to herself over the years. But she comes across farming neighbours talking about what happened in the past and she can no longer let them go unpunished. She burns up inside. What makes matters worse is that one of the neighbours that conspired against her father falls in love with her and chases her through the countryside, shouting, "Je t'aime! Je t'aime!" ("I love you! I love you!"). The film ends with a series of shocking revelations that the viewer could never have guessed. The plot comes full circle and couldn't be more ironically perfect!
Your soul will be left glowing. These movies will shower you with gold. (10 out of 10 for both films)