Conversations with My Gardener (2007)

A successful artist, weary of Parisian life and on the verge of divorce, returns to the country to live in his childhood house. He needs someone to make a real vegetable garden again out of... See full summary »

Director:

Jean Becker

Writers:

Jean Becker, Jean Cosmos (screenplay and dialogue)

Stars:

Daniel Auteuil, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Fanny Cottençon

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Auteuil	...	Le peintre dit Dupinceau
Jean-Pierre Darroussin	...	Le jardinier Léo dit Dujardin
Fanny Cottençon	...	Hélène
Alexia Barlier	...	Magda
Hiam Abbass	...	La femme du jardinier
Élodie Navarre	...	Carole
Roger Van Hool	...	Tony
Michel Lagueyrie	...	René
Christian Schiaretti	...	Charles
Jean-Claude Bolle-Reddat	...	Le maire
Bernard Crombey	...	Durieux
Nicolas Vaude	...	Jean-Etienne
Coralie André	...	La vendeuse
Monique Roussel	...	La veuve Juliette
André Lutrand	...	Le père Colin

Storyline

A successful artist, weary of Parisian life and on the verge of divorce, returns to the country to live in his childhood house. He needs someone to make a real vegetable garden again out of the wilderness it has become. The gardener happens to be a former schoolfriend. A warm, fruitful conversation starts between the two men...

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Plot Keywords:

gardener | divorce | vegetable | love | southern france | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan] Studio Canal [France]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

6 June 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

Conversations with My Gardener

Filming Locations:

Musée de l'Education du Val-d'Oise, 2 place des Ecoles, Val-d'Oise, France

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$15,217,960

Company Credits

Production Co:

ICE3, K.J.B. Production, StudioCanal

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Le peintre dit Dupinceau: It's been commissioned. I've created a piece of furniture.

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Soundtracks

Concerto pour clarinette
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

User Reviews

Conversation with my Gardener

I read about this movie, and so deeply interested about the story line that I had to go and watch this flick. I do not understand French, nor the Dutch sub-titles. What I did was tried to search for sub-titles in English on the internet. Could not find one, so downloaded the sub-titles in Spanish, translated them to English and read the whole script of sub-titles before going for the movie. Surely it did not make much sense, but I depended on my memory to recollect the discussions between the painter and the gardener. Coming back home, I again re-read the sub-title script and recollected the images. That is how I saw and understood the movie. Though silly, that was the only and my way of doing enjoying this masterpiece.

The story is simple – a famous painter Dupinceau (Daniel Auteuil) is fed up with life in Paris and has decided to move back to his village home to paint. He hires a gardener Dujardin (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) who turns out to me school class mate. A whole lifetime has passed from where they started at school – remembering a prank the students played on their teacher's birthday cake. They share their journey of life with each other – through casual talks. The painter and gardener both experts in their fields are unique, in their perception of seeing things and understanding. Both of them become close friends – and with ailing health of gardener, the painter takes him to Paris for treatment. A few years later when the gardener dies, the painter fulfills his wishes by drawing the common things of his gardener's life – to capture those memories of happiness and joys.

The simplicity of plot and the depth of discussion is so appealing that one fills fulfilled by just listening the gardener and painter talk – you wish their talk would never end. This inspiring interest is created by Daniel and Jen-Pierre in living their roles perfectly on screen.

Seventy year old Director Jean Becker, who has also partly written the story takes us through this varied journey of life's mysteries without letting us know that.

The innocent wittiness of gardener's amazement and questions posed to the painter are the highlight of the movie – that bring enlightenment of seeing things differently for painter and also for us.

The background musical score is spare, but wherever it is used, it is effective. There are a few sub-plots, but the movie does not digress from the main theme, and kudos to that track.

The most moving scene for me was when the two friends go for fishing, catch a big fish and then leave it back in the water alive and free again. Wonderful! There are so many dialogues in questions, answers and casual exchanges – that resonate with our souls. The last words of the gardener would ring in our hearts for years – I would like that you painted something that I liked. And in the end - the painter does… A classic, not to be missed – only recommended for those who are willing to know their souls (Stars 7.25 out fo 10)