The Grocer's Son (2007)
"Le fils de l'épicier" (original title)

Antoine Sforza, a thirty-year-old young man, left his village ten years before in order to start a new life in the big city, but now that his father, a traveling grocer, is in hospital ... See full summary »

Director:

Eric Guirado

Writers:

Eric Guirado (scenario), Florence Vignon (scenario),

Stars:

Nicolas Cazalé, Clotilde Hesme, Daniel Duval

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cazalé	...	Antoine Sforza
Clotilde Hesme	...	Claire
Daniel Duval	...	M. Sforza, le père d'Antoine
Jeanne Goupil	...	Mme Sforza, la mère d'Antoine
Stéphan Guérin-Tillié	...	François Sforza, le frère d'Antoine
Liliane Rovère	...	Lucienne
Paul Crauchet	...	Le père Clément
Chad Chenouga	...	Hassan l'épicier
Ludmila Ruoso	...	Sophie
Benoît Giros	...	Fernand, le mécano
Gilles Chabrier	...	Le chef de rang
Jean-Luc Boucherot	...	Le docteur village
Gilberte Muguet	...	Mamie baskets
Christophe Mirabel	...	Le père du petit garçon
Odile Tommy Martin	...	Mamie escargot

Storyline

Antoine Sforza, a thirty-year-old young man, left his village ten years before in order to start a new life in the big city, but now that his father, a traveling grocer, is in hospital after a stroke, he more or less reluctantly accepts to come back to replace him in his daily rounds. Back in the village, accompanied by Claire, a young woman he loves but who hesitates to commit herself, he does the job half-satisfactorily. Too blunt, not in harmony with the locals, he offends them more than he serves them. Fortunately Claire, who has more business acumen, helps him to improve his skills. On the other hand, the relationships are tense with his brother François and even worse with his father, who despises him. So when the latter is back in the village, the situation deteriorates...

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Plot Keywords:

village | hospital | grocer | prayer | french countryside | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Les Films du Losange [fr]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

6 June 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Grocer's Son

Filming Locations:

Lyon, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$10,587 (USA) (6 June 2008)

Gross:

$276,454 (USA) (12 December 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

TS Productions, Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, Canal+

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Eric Guirado spent time observing actual village merchants as research for the film.

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Goofs

When Antoine brings his mother to his apartment at the beginning of the movie, they enter from the staircase via a white door. Few seconds later when he exits the apartment to bring coffee to his mother from his neighbor, he exit to the staircase via the brown door.

User Reviews

Dix Points!

I have just been to see this film at the Glasgow Film Theatre. I had been unaware of the director's reputation as a documentary maker and I have to agree with all the earlier commentators' opinions on the filmmaker's superb feel for scenery. One could almost sense the warmth and the scents of Provence. The actors, both principal and co-opted paysannes (French country people), were natural in their roles: I have overheard the same banter between customers and stall-holders in markets throughout rural France. This film is a treat to watch and I have no hesitation in awarding it "dix points"! My only minor reservation concerns the English sub-titles: some of the wonderful French dialogue looked as if it had been translated by an adolescent. All the same, a great film.