A tale of good versus evil .. Build versus destroy!
Added 8/31/2009
Jean de Florette is a moving and poignant story of a city tax collector who recently inherits land and a home for his wife and daughter. He loves nature, has farming knowledge, follows a plan, and exudes a desire to become successful and profitable. What he is unaware is that he is up against an evil landowner Cesar Soubeyran and his nephew, Ugolin, who with greed, scheme and plot to take the land away.
The soil is rich, but the supply for water has been plugged by Soubeyran and Ugolin. As Ugolin, the middleman sets up the evil deeds, he watches with interest how de Florette's farming techniques prove successful. He provides assistance, loaning his mule and water to Florette. Impressed, Ugolin tends to show a little more heart than his uncle Soubeyran. Every step is a challenge as Florette manages his plan, addresses struggles, loses the land's water, and yet he still prays for rain. He is driven to the ultimate torment with devastating consequences.
The acting by the main actors, Montand, Depardieu and Auteil brings a greater depth to the story of good versus evil. The acting by the three leads is excellent, the costumes perfected to the period, and the scenery is beautiful mountainous countryside. French actors Depardieu and Auteil have starred in comedies, Auteil The Closet and Depardieu was lead actor in an 80s American film, Green Card and 1998 The Man in the Iron Mask.
Based on a novel by Marcel Pagnol, the film was made in 1986 and takes place in France after World War in the village of Providence. The film has won numerous awards. It is followed up by the continuing saga, Manon of the Spring, where 10 years later, de Florette's beautiful daughter is the interest of the man involved in the scheme to destory her father. See this one only after watching Jean de Florette. ....Rizzo
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A Feast for the Eyes and Ears
Added 5/6/2009
Jean de Florette is a beautifully made motion picture. This poignant tale is set in Provence in southern France. The beautiful scenery is truly breathtaking. Heard throughout, the haunting score will stay in your mind for days after viewing the film. Yves Montand is superb as the aging, greedy Cesar Soubeyran. Gerard Depardieu is never better than in the title role as the hopeful and yet tragic hunchback hero. The English sub-titles in no way detract from this cinematographical delight.
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Good Storytelling, But Frustrating
Added 3/2/2009
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
I'm not quite sure what the appeal is to this movie, but it's definitely there. I've watched this several times in the past 15 years and always got involved with it....and it's companion piece, "Manon of the Spring." If given a choice, I prefer the latter movie, only perhaps because this is a frustrating story, seeing a good man get ruined simply for greed.
Both stories are well-done.
This tragic tale of two greedy people driving a nice man and his family off their land is not only frustrating but sad, especially since their is no happy ending, with the man dying while trying to salvage his property. The second film is years later when the daughter, now grown up, gets revenge.
Gerald Depardieu is the nice guy here, the one we all root for while Yves Montand and Daniel Auteuil are the greedy jerks. These three are famous French actors who always give their audiences good performances.
A big plus in this film is the very nice cinematography, which is why I bought this when it first came out on DVD. This is a fine visual movie, not just good storytelling.
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Jean de Florette
Added 6/3/2008
This customer was very pleasently surprized that I could find this movie! It arrived sooner than expected and in good condition.
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Jean De Florette
Added 7/9/2007
Adapted from Marcel Pagnol's two-volume novel, Claude Berri's magnificent "Jean de Florette" (and its sequel, "Manon of the Spring"), center on the bounty we owe to water, comprising two parts of one rich story. The great Yves Montand delivers a memorable, nuanced portrayal of the scheming "Le Papet," while the equally brilliant Depardieu tugs at the heartstrings as determined hunchback Cadoret, who struggles against impossible odds to make his farm a success . Stunningly picturesque, "Jean" reaches a high watermark for period drama.
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A tale of good versus evil .. Build versus destroy!
Added 8/31/2009
Jean de Florette is a moving and poignant story of a city tax collector who recently inherits land and a home for his wife and daughter. He loves nature, has farming knowledge, follows a plan, and exudes a desire to become successful and profitable. What he is unaware is that he is up against an evil landowner Cesar Soubeyran and his nephew, Ugolin, who with greed, scheme and plot to take the land away.
The soil is rich, but the supply for water has been plugged by Soubeyran and Ugolin. As Ugolin, the middleman sets up the evil deeds, he watches with interest how de Florette's farming techniques prove successful. He provides assistance, loaning his mule and water to Florette. Impressed, Ugolin tends to show a little more heart than his uncle Soubeyran. Every step is a challenge as Florette manages his plan, addresses struggles, loses the land's water, and yet he still prays for rain. He is driven to the ultimate torment with devastating consequences.
The acting by the main actors, Montand, Depardieu and Auteil brings a greater depth to the story of good versus evil. The acting by the three leads is excellent, the costumes perfected to the period, and the scenery is beautiful mountainous countryside. French actors Depardieu and Auteil have starred in comedies, Auteil The Closet and Depardieu was lead actor in an 80s American film, Green Card and 1998 The Man in the Iron Mask.
Based on a novel by Marcel Pagnol, the film was made in 1986 and takes place in France after World War in the village of Providence. The film has won numerous awards. It is followed up by the continuing saga, Manon of the Spring, where 10 years later, de Florette's beautiful daughter is the interest of the man involved in the scheme to destory her father. See this one only after watching Jean de Florette. ....Rizzo
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
A Feast for the Eyes and Ears
Added 5/6/2009
Jean de Florette is a beautifully made motion picture. This poignant tale is set in Provence in southern France. The beautiful scenery is truly breathtaking. Heard throughout, the haunting score will stay in your mind for days after viewing the film. Yves Montand is superb as the aging, greedy Cesar Soubeyran. Gerard Depardieu is never better than in the title role as the hopeful and yet tragic hunchback hero. The English sub-titles in no way detract from this cinematographical delight.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Good Storytelling, But Frustrating
Added 3/2/2009
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
I'm not quite sure what the appeal is to this movie, but it's definitely there. I've watched this several times in the past 15 years and always got involved with it....and it's companion piece, "Manon of the Spring." If given a choice, I prefer the latter movie, only perhaps because this is a frustrating story, seeing a good man get ruined simply for greed.
Both stories are well-done.
This tragic tale of two greedy people driving a nice man and his family off their land is not only frustrating but sad, especially since their is no happy ending, with the man dying while trying to salvage his property. The second film is years later when the daughter, now grown up, gets revenge.
Gerald Depardieu is the nice guy here, the one we all root for while Yves Montand and Daniel Auteuil are the greedy jerks. These three are famous French actors who always give their audiences good performances.
A big plus in this film is the very nice cinematography, which is why I bought this when it first came out on DVD. This is a fine visual movie, not just good storytelling.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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