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Summary: Got 2 Own Saga
Review: After the death of a family member,Gerard Depardieu, who plays a hunchback, father, and all around good guy, moves his family out of the city and to the country. His plan is to live happily in the peacefulness of nature. Unfortunatly, his neighbors plan is to destroy that peacefulness and anything that gets in their way. Unknown to the hunchback, the land that he owns is worth much, due to a natural spring that runs through it. The spring, however, has been blocked up so the land has gone to waste. The neighbors, having found the source of the spring, and realizing the worth of the land, continually divise new methods to try and obtain it. Whether by legaly buying the property or stealing it, they will make sure that the hunchback and his family's life is miserable until they have it. Being the first movie in a two part set, I recommend buying both and watching them back 2 back as they will be most affective that way.
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Summary: Epic story of greed, revenge and hope
Review: As a movie animal that saw everything that came out (well, before we had kids, anyway..) this movie and its sequel comprise my favorite film(s) of all time. It tells its tale of greed with humor, anger, irony -- absolutely unforgettable! I'm truly a better person for having seen it. I'm SOOO glad to see it out on DVD, now that my VHS copy is getting old.
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Summary: Great movie, poor audio transfer
Review: It is so incredibly disappointing that when such a fine film is released on DVD that the audio would be out of synch. Does anyone know if this an inherent problem with all the pressings?
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Summary: One of the top 10 films ever made
Review: Jean de Florette, along with Manon of the Spring are among the best movies ever made. A rich, poignant morality tale in the South of France touches on the basic issues of life: the importance of kindness to strangers, the unforeseeable consequences of evil, the importance of tradition, the love within families, etc. Be sure to also see "My Mother's Castle" and "My Father's Glory", Both, along with the two mentioned above, are testaments to Marcel Pagnol's genius.
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Summary: Yawn De Florette
Review: This film is a BORE. A beautifully produced, sumptuously photographed, beautifully designed, absolutely suffocating BORE. This is the kind of film that gives art films a bad name. It is the kind of literary adaptation that people just love to watch because it takes place in pretty locations, and is based on a book that no one has ever read but is acclaimed as a classic in the advertisements, and is very very very very very very long, and takes itself very very very very very very very seriously, and is just generally so very busy being so very ARTISTIC that is forgets little things like plot and characterization. I did not care about anyone or anything in this pompous load of nonsense. I was not really expected to, of course. The filmmakers are more interested in attracting tourists to France than in creating a living work of cinema. Avoid this film.
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Summary: An intriguing story of the struggle of everyday life
Review: Jean de Florette is a creative portrayal of life in southern France, many years ago. The plot revolves around two men in search of water for their farm. Alas, they have none on their property; the nearest spring is on the neighbor's land. Thus, the two connive to get the owner to sell the property, but it doesn't work. This is the story of their struggle - and their neighbors. Great acting, and surprising plot. One must see the sequel, it completes the story and adds to the over-all effect.
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Summary: Definitely worth watching, although the lesser of two parts.
Review: Although new to French Cimema, this film has introduced me to some wonderful acting and cinematography. The set is impressive and the music is memorable. Having watched Jean de Florette first, I believe it warrants five stars of it's own accord. Manon des Sources is far superior, but there aren't many films that hold a candle to Manon, foreign language or otherwise. I certainly agree that this has to be seen to appreciate Manon. With these two films being one of the rarities in film making, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
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Summary: Jean de florette...a few corrections
Review: This is undoubtedly one of the best films ever to come from France... The film takes place in Province, & tells the story of a Hunchback (jean De Florette), who inherits an old farm from his late uncle. He has previously worked in the city as a tax inspecter & decides to bring his wife & daughter to the farm to start a new life, raising rabbits to support the family. (Not Carnations).His neighbours block up the only water source that the farmland has, so his job is made virtually imposible, hence the scenes of carrying water to the farm... The neighbours want to buy the land from him to grow carnations, so that they can sell them themselves... The tale of hardship & deceit that unfolds is very touching, & the story is truly one of the classics in French literature. The film closely follows the original story by Marcel Pagnol, & the photography in this film is truly stunning...this is what Province really looks like... Buy it!... The film "Manon des sources" is the concluding part of this powerful story.
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Summary: Don't watch it unless you want to be really depressed
Review: This is movie is deep and poignant. However, it is not a feel-good movie. You will not glory in the human spirit--you will feel digusted with it. The acting is wonderful, as is the scenery and the filmmaking, though, so if you are in the mood and you want something to really make you think, this is the movie for you.
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Summary: Part 1 of 2 parts....
Review: I like Gerard Depardieu, but JEAN DE FLORETTE is not one of my favorite films. As one New York critic put it, you get to watch Depardieu haul water in various containers for most of the movie. So, why see it or buy it? Because it is necessary to see this film to appreciate the second part of the story MANON OF THE SPRING. Jean de Florette returns to his home in Provence leaving his life in Paris behind. His wife, an opera singer (who warbles a few convincing notes from time to time) and his young daughter Manon accompany him. Manon is named for the operatic 'Manon' -- but of course. De Florette wishes to resume farming on his old family homestead -- growing carnations for the Paris flower market. His land adjoins that of his Uncle (Yves Montand) and cousin (Daniel Auteuil). But there is a problem. The water available for farming will not support the crops on both farms. So, the inevitable struggle for water begins. I believe the screenplay and direction are by Pagnol, he of MY MOTHER'S HOUSE and MY FATHER'S CASTLE fame. The photography is wonderful, and the shots of De Florette in his garden surrounded by red carnations is beautiful. I bought the DVD because I want the matched pair, and I love MANON OF THE SPRING.
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