Jean de Florette (1986)

A greedy landowner and his backward nephew conspire to block the only water source for an adjoining property in order to bankrupt the owner and force him to sell.

Director:

Claude Berri

Writers:

Claude Berri (adaptation), Gérard Brach (adaptation) (as Gerard Brach)

Stars:

Yves Montand, Gérard Depardieu, Daniel Auteuil

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 11 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Yves Montand	...	Cesar Soubeyran dit 'Le Papet'
Gérard Depardieu	...	Jean de Florette (as Gerard Depardieu)
Daniel Auteuil	...	Ugolin
Elisabeth Depardieu	...	Aimee Cadoret
Margarita Lozano	...	Baptistine
Ernestine Mazurowna	...	Manon Cadoret enfant
Armand Meffre	...	Philoxéne
André Dupon	...	Pamphile, le menuisier (as Andre Dupon)
Pierre Nougaro	...	Casimir
Jean Maurel	...	Anglade
Roger Souza	...	Ange
Didier Pain	...	Eliacin
Pierre-Jean Rippert	...	Pascal
Marc Betton	...	Martial
Clement Cal	...	Méderic

Storyline

In a rural French village an old man and his only remaining relative cast their covetous eyes on an adjoining vacant property. They need its spring water for growing their flowers, so are dismayed to hear the man who has inherited it is moving in. They block up the spring and watch as their new neighbour tries to keep his crops watered from wells far afield through the hot summer. Though they see his desperate efforts are breaking his health and his wife and daughter's hearts they think only of getting the water.

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Plot Keywords:

water | country vs city cultures | conspiracy | water rights | provence | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Switzerland France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

28 August 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Жан де Флоретт

Filming Locations:

Ansouis, Vaucluse, France

Box Office

Gross USA:

$4,940,939

Company Credits

Production Co:

DD Productions, Films A2, RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During pre-production 12,000 carnations had to be planted and a dozen olive trees, each several hundred years old, had to be transplanted.

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Goofs

When Jean is first fixing his roof and he bends over, the outline of the padding used to make his hunchback is clearly visible.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[dialog in French, lines from English subtitles]
Ugolin: Papet! Papet! It's me, Ugolin!

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Connections

Referenced in Notting Hill (1999)

User Reviews

Subtitles can be interesting...

I was 10 when my parents rented this and it's sequel the first time. They tried to make me watch it, but I refused. Subtitled movies are for cultured people was my thoughts at the time. I came down a few hours later when they had just started Manon De Sources. Emanuelle Beart had just started playing harmonica. If you've seen this then you'll know why I was instantly captivated. Before I realized what was happening I was caught up in the tale. For many years I have remembered the film, and meant to see it again, it made such an impression on me. I finally saw them again today, and they were magnificent.

I watched them both, one after the other. The scenery is spectacular, and the story is so spellbinding that time will fly. I am usually an action junkie, but these films just appealed to me as no other ever has.

Even if you hate subtitles I guarantee that you will love this film, and an hour later you'll remember the characters speaking in English. No matter how tough you are, if your heart doesn't break for Jean, then it never will.