The sun-dappled beauty of the Provence countryside belies dark motivations in Claude Berri’s monumental two-part pastoral tragedy.

When the naively idealistic tax collector Jean Cadoret (Gérard Depardieu) unexpectedly inherits a family farm, he leaves the city for a new life in the agrarian community where his mother, Florette, grew up. His neighbours, however, the scheming Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) and his proud uncle César “Le Papet” Soubeyran (Yves Montand), have plotted to divert the flow of water away from Jean’s land.

Desert Island Screening: This screening has been selected by a member of the public.

Director Claude Berri
Year 1986
Duration 2h
Language French with English subtitles
Cast Gérard Depardieu, Yves Montand, Daniel Auteuil