This week's Film Friday, is not one, but two movies. I feel that these films are so integral to each other that they belong together as one film. You cannot have one without the other, and the emotional impact of the finale of part two would not be possible without seeing the story play out in part one.
For those of you who have never had the pleasure of watching Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources, I implore you to seek out these films immediately. Don't read too much about either film in advance as you'll be sure to read some pretty big plot spoilers.
Jean de Florette tells the story of Papet and his nephew, Ugolin, who, blinded by visions of greed and fortune, covet their neighbour's land for its fine soil and water spring. When their neighbour dies, they see their opportunity to buy their way in, but are dismayed to find that a hunchback, Jean, has inherited the farm & has decided to leave the city to make way for a life of farming with his wife and young daughter. Papet and Ugolin block up the spring in an effort to ruin his crops and allow them to buy up the land, but their actions leave them bloodguilty as Jean struggles to save his crops against the odds. Manon des Sources continues the story a few years later & shows the devastating consequences of greed and selfishness.
That's it. No more spoilers. You'll have to discover it for yourself.
My two all time favourite films ( along with The Killing Fields) I studied the books at school for French A level and was enchanted by the wonderful films, the dialogue, scenery, music, everything was just as I had pictured it in my head.
Posted by: French Knots | March 08, 2008 at 07:51 AM
Thank you for reviewing !! I agree with you. "Jean de Florette " is very good movie. I had seen it 3 years before and am thinking of watching it once again.
Posted by: Watch Movies | March 19, 2010 at 09:39 AM