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Jean De Florette (1986)

Average rating

(76%)

Starring:	Yves Montand \| Gerard Depardieu \| Daniel Auteuil \| Elisabeth Depardieu
Director:	Claude Berri
Studio:	PATHE DISTRIBUTION
Run time:	116 mins
Genres:	Drama \| World Cinema
Languages:	French
Subtitles:	English
Released:	March 27, 2000

French director Claude Berri's stunning adaptation of the acclaimed Marcel Pagnol novel is the winner of numerous international awards and is the world's most popular foreign language film ever. City-dweller Jean de Florette (Gerard Depardieu) moves his family to the Provence countryside in the 1920's to forge a new life as a farmer. But his proud, cocky neighboring rival Le Papet (Yves Montand) schemes with his simple-minded nephew Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) to acquire some nearby land ensuring the novice owner never discovers an all-important natural spring on the property.

A wholly captivating, emotionally powerful and beautifully photographed classic epic of innocence, evil, greed, envy and revenge.

Rating of 5 stars out of 5

The first part of Claude Berri's adaptation of Marcel Pagnol's novel L'Eau des Collines is, quite simply, a tour de force. The screenplay (by Berri and Gérard Brach) is wholly cinematic, Bruno Nuytten's shimmering cinematography avoids mere pictorialism, while Berri's direction captures both the pace of the changing seasons and the unique atmosphere of Provence. The acting is also of the highest order. Gérard Depardieu is perhaps a little too insistent in asserting the worthiness of the hunchback, but Yves Montand and Daniel Auteuil are outstanding as the scheming Soubeyrans. The sequel, Manon des Sources, was released later the same year.

Rating of 3 stars out of 5
Halliwell's Film Guide

Stunning performances and detailed depiction of Provençal farming life made it a wild success in France, repeated to a remarkable extent abroad.

Highest rated reviews

74 out of 75 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 4.0 stars
French Connection

A Customer from Oxford, 20th September, 2003

The film with the Stella music that is oft quoted as the most popular foreign language film ever made ? and rightly so. Other than Nikita, this is probably the best film to come out of France, and yet it has such an unlikely plot for the success that it reaped. With all the hype surrounding special effects and action movies, people forget that cinema is essentially story telling. This is one reason that some tales have been brought to the screen over and over again. Unless we are interested in the actions or fate of the central character a film will fail to grab a viewer's attention.

This is where Jean de Florette is pre-eminent. It tells a tale. It tells it simply and engages the viewers heart. The film is wonderfully shot in the French countryside with an almost photographic eye for images.

Gerard Depardieu's performance must rank as one of cinema's greatest performances and he is more than ably assisted by Yves Montand and the rest of the cast.

Also worthy of note is the selection of Verdi's The Force of Destiny as the theme music because throughout the film I felt that Destiny, cruel and heartless was driving the story forward.

This is without doubt cinema great and is recommended as a peerless effort in what cinema should be - story telling.

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18 out of 19 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 2.0 stars
Simply beautiful

harryxzy from Surrey, 22nd April, 2004

Berri's first instalment of the gripping story of rural scheming and intrigue in the Province.

Beautifully shot against the background of a breathtaking landscape and with strong performances by Montand and Depardieu, probably two of the best French actors.

The story has got real humanity: people are depicted with warmth and feeling, warts and all and you can just feel the heat of the sun and smell the dry earth and sour wine!

Although the film made me sad by times it is also very funny! It is about the avarice and small mindedness of simple country people in their devious pursuit of a hidden spring on a neighbour's property. Nothing can stop them: will they even stoop to murder?

A refreshing alternative to the clichéd formula from Hollywood.

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11 out of 12 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5.0 stars
Great Film

WolvesWanderer from Wolverhampton, 8th December, 2004

I am a fan of foreign language films, so if you don't mind subtitles (or understand French) I heartily recommend this film.

The basic plot is that a family from the city inherit a farm, and without any experience, save a few text books, give up their jobs and try to make a go of it as farmers. Unfortunately, a couple of local farmers decide that the farm should rightfully be theirs and they do their utmost to stop them making a success of it.

This does not do the film justice however. Rent it and you will not be disappointed.

There is also a sequel (Manon Des Sources) which is equally as good and I recommend that film too.

Enjoy.

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Most recent reviews

Rated 5.0 stars
Superb!

MadMikey from , 18th January, 2010

French films rely much less on special effects and action than those from Hollywood. Instead they depend on superb acting to emotionally draw you in. Jean de Florette is the creme de la creme of French movies. The story line keeps you rivetted and makes you feel the same emotions as the protagonists. All performances are magnificent. Daniel Auteuil deserves a special mention. His performance is flawless. Although he plays a very ugly rogue, you cannot help but like him and even sometimes pity him. The excellent cinematography and the rugged Provence countryside also makes this film a visual treat and is as important a factor in the story as the actors themselves. Jean de Florrette can be watched on its own, but it is really only the first part of the story. The follow on is Manon des Sources.

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