Product: Manon of the Spring (1987)
Rating: 5.0
A beautiful sequel
This movie is the sequel to JEAN DE FLORETTE, which really should be seen before viewing this one. It's 10 years later, and the little girl Manon (Emmanuelle Beart), who knows the secret of the spring, is grown up now. Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) has fallen madly in love with her, but she repels him and then reveals the secret. He commits suicide. Then it's revealed, though it's no surprise, that Mannon's father was actually the son of Ugolin's uncle Le Papet (Yves Montand). We could figure this out from he beginning of JEAN DE FLORETTE.Again, though, this is a folktale expressed on film and surprises are not important, only the telling is - and that is done excellently. The portent of magic is even introduced when the town's well dries up in a drought; a "ceremony" is conducted and the water flows again. The characters are simple and direct and do only what they have to do to further the story. There is evil committed and evil avenged. Hans Christian Andersen or the Grimm Brothers would be proud of this movie. It's a beauty to watch. Definitely worth checking out.