SPOILERS
"Manon des Sources" is the second part of the highly acclaimed "Jean de Florette" double,adapted from a movie/novel made by Marcel Pagnol. The movie picks up the trail were the first part left off and although both movies were made in the same year there has been a a complete make-over in the characters (not the names but their appereance).The story takes place 10 years after Jean de Florette (Gerard Depardieu who of course isn't present in this film) was killed in an accident on his land caused by the evil secrecy from Cesar (Yves Montand) and Ugolin Soubeyran (Daniel Auteuil.The daughter of Jean now wants her revenge and gets it after she stops the water from coming into the village and on the country.This act causes the villagers to tell the truth about what happened in the past and it all ends with a climax that is as surprising and as shocking as one has ever seen.
Like in the first film the acting is again first class,especially by Yves Montand who plays brilliantly.But the performances of Daniel Auteuil,Emmanuelle Beart (who plays Manon) and a great supporting role by Yvonne Gamy (who is responsible for the extraordinary climax) are also of the highest quality.Yes this is a real actors movie. But the surroundings are yet again superb and brilliantly shot by Bruno Nuytten,some of the shots are so beautiful that it seems like a dream.One setting is gone though and that's the house of the guardian of Manon.The location of that house reminded me a lot to the house of General Makabe (Toshiro Mufine) in the great adventure movie "Kakushi toride no san akunin" or "The Hidden Fortress" by Akira Kurosawa.But still,that doesn't take away the strength of the images in "Manon des Sources".
Everything comes to an end in one brilliant scene in which the old lady Delphine (played by Yvonne Gamy) tells Cesar that the hunchback that he betrayed and,in a way,killed was actually his son.This confession is so riveting yet beautifully acted that it doesn't seem too much. It is a righteous ending to a very good 4 hour movie experience wisely cut in two. 9/10 (currently number 96 in my all time top 100 list)
"Manon des Sources" is the second part of the highly acclaimed "Jean de Florette" double,adapted from a movie/novel made by Marcel Pagnol. The movie picks up the trail were the first part left off and although both movies were made in the same year there has been a a complete make-over in the characters (not the names but their appereance).The story takes place 10 years after Jean de Florette (Gerard Depardieu who of course isn't present in this film) was killed in an accident on his land caused by the evil secrecy from Cesar (Yves Montand) and Ugolin Soubeyran (Daniel Auteuil.The daughter of Jean now wants her revenge and gets it after she stops the water from coming into the village and on the country.This act causes the villagers to tell the truth about what happened in the past and it all ends with a climax that is as surprising and as shocking as one has ever seen.
Like in the first film the acting is again first class,especially by Yves Montand who plays brilliantly.But the performances of Daniel Auteuil,Emmanuelle Beart (who plays Manon) and a great supporting role by Yvonne Gamy (who is responsible for the extraordinary climax) are also of the highest quality.Yes this is a real actors movie. But the surroundings are yet again superb and brilliantly shot by Bruno Nuytten,some of the shots are so beautiful that it seems like a dream.One setting is gone though and that's the house of the guardian of Manon.The location of that house reminded me a lot to the house of General Makabe (Toshiro Mufine) in the great adventure movie "Kakushi toride no san akunin" or "The Hidden Fortress" by Akira Kurosawa.But still,that doesn't take away the strength of the images in "Manon des Sources".
Everything comes to an end in one brilliant scene in which the old lady Delphine (played by Yvonne Gamy) tells Cesar that the hunchback that he betrayed and,in a way,killed was actually his son.This confession is so riveting yet beautifully acted that it doesn't seem too much. It is a righteous ending to a very good 4 hour movie experience wisely cut in two. 9/10 (currently number 96 in my all time top 100 list)