Jean de Florette & Manon of the Spring

[amonkie]

Is anyone else a fan of foreign films? I just finished watching Manon of the Spring, and just had to post something about the movie.

These two movies really encompass French tragedy and irony. A beatiful language is a plus, too!


I don't want to spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it, but put it on your watch it list for the weekend if you haven't!

[exizldelfuego]

Never really been into foreign films. Loved all I've seen, just never gone out of my way to see them. Anyhow, a friend introduced me to these two movies, and they really are excellent. I give them big thumbs up. But like you, I wouldn't want to spoil anything...

[Mephisto2]

Well, I love "foreign movies" too. Of course, 99.9% of movies are foreign for me, as Ireland doesn't have much of a movie industry!

But I suspect you mean, non-Hollywood (or even non-English) movies. And I heartedly agree. Whilst I like a block-buster as much as the next guy, I find I'm more attracted to independent of foreign movies.

If you like Jean De Florette and Mamon de Sources, try to catch "Le Belle Epoque", "Delicatessan" (VERY quirky!) and (if you want to see a good French action movie, that is FAR superiour to the US remake) "La Femme Nikita".

Other great non-English movies include Das Boot (German movie on WWII submarine warfare), "Cinema Paradiso" (still makes me cry), "Seven Samurai"...

Sheesh, I could go on and on!

Welcome to the rest of your life mate. There's so many cool movies out there that are not sugared Hollywood fluff...

Mr Mephisto

[MeltedMetalGlob]

I actually saw both these films back in 1995 after a coworker recommended them. I watched 'em back to back, and was highly impressed. Generally, I rate a film out of five stars, and gave Jean de Florette a solid five for being such a gripping drama...

...until I saw the sequel. I do love a good "payback" movie, and Manon of the Spring was so great I honestly knocked the first film's star rating down half a notch just so I could rate the sequel a full five stars.

Without giving away too much, the story revolved around a dishonest French farmer who wants to use a spring (that's not on his property) to grow a field of carnations, but his new neighbor (who rightfully owns the spring) is planning to raise rabbits. The carnation farmer schemes to bring down the rabbit rustler, and Spoiler: things go badly for all parties.

The sequel takes place ten years later, with the rabbit rustler's daughter grown into a (hot) young woman, and she learns of the nefarious plot that ruined her family earlier. This is an awesome revenge film that completes the story. Highly recommended!

[Charlatan]

If you like these films, you should check out the Fanny Trilogy.

Marius
Fanny
Cesar

They are all writen by Marcel Pagnol, the same person up whose novels Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources are based on. They were made in the 1930s, but are very well done.

[hunnychile]

amonkie...those are two of my favorite all time movies!!! They are even better when you watch them again in a few years. More subtle details will appear and make you amazed.

Such beauty and well written. Glad you saw them & loved them, too.