Jean de Florette (1986)

77% User Rating

2h 1min

"For some men, land and water are more precious than flesh and blood."

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, and are dismayed to hear that 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.

Claude BerriDirector

Reviews (3)

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Nutshell

May 22, 2020

sub·tle (adjective) Definition: making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something. One of the most celebrated French films of the 1980s, and with good reason. I don't think there's ever been a film that better depicts evil so subtlety well as Jean de Florette, specifically in terms of greed, covetousness, and selfishness. It is not at all a "thriller", but an engrossing drama that envelops you with its deep characterizations and tragic story. Directed and co-written by Claude Berri, and starring Yves Montand and Gerard Depardieu (both of them just excellent). This film, viewed along with it's sequel Manon of the Spring, reward the viewer with roughly 4 hours of one of the most enjoyable cinematic experiences ever. This is the Pathé 4K Restoration.