Product: Jean de Florette (1987)
Rating: 5.0
A Pastoral Tragedy
Claude Berri directs this adaptation of Marcel Pagnol's epic tragedy set in rural France during the 1920s. In addition to the beautiful scenery of the southern French coutryside, the direction and acting create a most touching drama on the human condition.Jean de Florette (Gerard Depardieu) is a city man whose inheritance of a small tract in rural France encourages him to abandon his urban life and become a farmer. Confident that the land holds a spring to quench the parched earth, Jean becomes obsessed with applying his newly learned agricultural skills. Although Jean understands the science of agriculture, he's innocent as to the mindset of farmers such as his neighbors played by Yves Montand and Daniel Auteuil. His idealistic notion of pastoral life deceives him into thinking that his neighbors are welcoming and honest folk who wish to help him in his pursuits: he couldn't be further from the truth. In the end, Jean becomes the victim of his own credulity and of his neighbor's schemes. Befriending Jean, the neighboring farmers actually want the land for themselves and will do anything to keep it barren.This is an extremely good movie with rich detail and metaphor. The acting is top knotch and the cinematography is stunning. I strongly recommend this film.