Year 1920, approximatively, a Provence (south of France) village near Aubagne. Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) come back to his town. He has finished his military obligation. He strike at the door of his grandfather, the Papet ( Yves Montand). All two are the last Soubeyrans. The Papet seems to survive with his thrift ( he could have a hiding-place for a treasure). The Ugolin’s dream is to grow pinks and to get a lot of money with the sale. He talk of that with the Papet. Water is the problem. Where that grow can take place ?The Papet got an idea : buy his parcel to Marius Piqueboufigue. He doesn’t use it and a source is upstream. All two talk to Marius. But the Papet get nervous before the denial of Marius. Marius was up in a tree. Papet trick him by the legs and Marius fall down. The fall kill Marius ! Papet and Ugolin escape. They want all people believe it was an accident.
But the parcel is not for Ugolin or the Papet. The herloom give that parcel to Jean de Florette (Gérard Depardieu). Jean de Florette come from the town. He his son of Florette, children of the village. Florette is gone from a long time. Florette was the great love of Papet. That story finished with a misunderstanding. Since that, the two families don’t talk eachother.
Ugolin wants this parcel. He don’t see another ideal place. He knows very well the local mentality. So, he decides to located the spring of the water. He cor kit. The purpose is to discourage Jean. Jean wants to live here with his family into the wild. Jean become a friend of Ugolin. Ugolin wish to obtrain the parcel when Jean leave it, because the failure of water.
Ugolin (ugly and poor intelligence) his a servant of the Papet. Papet manipulate him, without any scrupule. Ugolin, neighbouring of Jean, help his family. He advice him. Hunch-backed, Jean dreams of rabbits. His hope is to multiplicate her number in a breed. Ugolin and the Papet watch him. Jean has too little water in a tank. When a needs much water, he got to a long journey, to the good source. Ugolin and the Papet enjoy themselves when they watch Jean very tired. If he knows where is the source of Marius ! In the village, everyone knows where is taht source. But, Jean become from town. So, nobody explain to him. Everybody works without any thinking of Jean …
This film is a good adaptation from Marcel Pagnol (atmosphere and personnalities). It’s a simple, universal and untemporal story. The picture is very luminous.The spectator get the impression of heat in summer. Daniel Auteuil is very good in Ugolin (several prizes in Europe for his interpretation). The choice of stars for that story is correct. The language is classical french, without local accents. Meanwhile, Depardieu plays Jean very theatracally. Probably a choice of Claude Berri, the director. Logical in front of the Pagnol’s style. And, it is very good, during a storm. It is in summer. Jean is desparate. He stand up and scream against god. It rains near back. He says « You believe it’s easy ? There got nobody in the sky ! » Several times. For him, the end is near…
France 1986 1h56 ***