Little Fadette (TV 2004)
"La petite Fadette" (original title)

Landry and Sylvinet are identical twins who are distraught when they are separated at the age of fourteen. Sent to work on the neighboring farm because phylloxera has ruined his father's ... See full summary »

Director:

Michaëla Watteaux

Writers:

George Sand (based on the novel by), Gabrielle Borile (scenario, adaptation and dialogue)

Stars:

Mélanie Bernier, Jérémie Renier, Richard Bohringer

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mélanie Bernier	...	Françoise Fadet dite Fadette
Jérémie Renier	...	Landry Barbeau
Richard Bohringer	...	Le père Barbeau
Annie Girardot	...	La mère Fadet
Maximilien Muller	...	Sylvinet Barbeau
Julie Judd	...	Madelon Caillaud
Manuela Servais	...	La mère Barbeau
Pascal Elso	...	Le père Caillaud
Françoise Michaud	...	La mère Caillaud
Guillaume Malavoy	...	Auguste
Nicolas Giraud	...	Vincent
Gaël Deviller	...	La soeur no 1
Floriane Devigne	...	La soeur no 2
Lucas Le Bars	...	Le Sauteriot
Laurenzo Ciais	...	Landry enfant

Storyline

Landry and Sylvinet are identical twins who are distraught when they are separated at the age of fourteen. Sent to work on the neighboring farm because phylloxera has ruined his father's vines, Sylvain, the stronger of the two brothers, recovers from the shock but not Sylvinet, who keeps moaning and sulking. Caillaud, the rich farmer who employs Landry is pleased with the way Landry works and lets him woo his daughter Madelon. Some day, due to a misunderstanding between the twins, Sylvinet runs away from home and disappears in the forest. And while Landry tries to find him in the woods he is helped by a little savage, Fadette, who lives there with her spiteful grandmother and her mentally retarded brother. Against all odds, Landry will gradually for this dirty little wild child.

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Plot Keywords:

twins | berry | based on novel | character name in title

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

20 December 2004 (France)

Also Known As:

Little Fadette

Company Credits

Production Co:

Murmures Productions, France 2 (FR2), Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of La petite Fadette (1979)

User Reviews

True Love, in the heart of France, See it if you can ...........

I discovered this one quite by chance, my wife asked me to tape it for her off the TV shortly before Xmas 2004 ! It's based on a novel by French Novelist George Sand and is set in the Berry region, Sand's birthplace. The Berry region is in central France, south-east of a town called Chateauroux,includes the town of Bourges and of course the village of Nohant, where George Sand herself actually lived. Having visited it myself, I can affirm that the area is charming and unspoiled even today and it is this same area which is the setting for this film.

It's a film about true love between two young people where there respective families try to get in the way of their happiness for financial reasons. Basically the boy's family want him to marry someone else to benefit from her dowry. In addition to that, Fadette, the young lady with whom the boy is really in love ( and boy, do we see it throughout the film !! ) is considered by the rest of the village to be some kind of malevolent witch to be avoided at all costs. The boy is one of twins and there is also a special relationship with his twin brother which conflicts with the love he has for Fadette.

I will add no more for fear of spoiling the story but I think it is impeccably acted and filmed. As it is only a TV film, I fear it may not make it beyond the frontiers of France, except to French speaking areas of Canada and Belgium. A great pity though as it is a very pleasant little film indeed. Great attention seems to have been paid to décors and lighting - the actors, apart from Richard Bohringer and Annie Girardot are not well known but carry the plot marvellously.

With a bit of luck this may be issued on DVD in France at least. With a title that seems untranslateable, keep an eye out for it on the TV in your country. You never know, miracles can happen .................