The grocers son is a 2007 french dramatic film about a family that runs a grocery business in provence, france. At first sullen and disagreeable, antoine is gradually seduced and persuaded of the charms of country life by claire. Actor, director, executive producer, adaptation, screenwriter. Fresh produce for ratatouille, please, but no attitude the new. A noteworthy performance by eric guirado makes this gently pastoral film a moving. The director, eric guirado, had previously made television documentaries about traveling grocers in rural france. Ultimately, this surprise french boxoffice hit is about the comingofage of a man rediscovering life and love in the countryside. Paul dreams of a harderworking, successful son a dream that one day seemingly materializes when he meets philippe, the son of his dying estate manager. Roger ebert was the film critic of the chicago suntimes from 1967 until his death in 20. This subtle, moving film about coming of age, family ties, and the simple, sturdy values of rural life was a huge sleeper hit at the french box office, and no wonder. The film was directed and cowritten by eric guirado, who reportedly followed and. The grocers son is a french variation of the fable of the prodigal son.
A little french film from the independent series of films, the butchers son is predictable, never goes beyond exactly what youd expect, and yet the end result is a. Rebellion gives way in the grocers son the village voice. Festival selections 9 films, 1 selection 99 francs 2006 asterix at the olympic games 2006 love me no more 2007 paris 2007 the grocers son. The grocers son unfolds at a leisurely pace and it doesnt hurt that its provence setting is so beautiful to look at. The grocers son finds theres no place like home the. Ultimately, this surprise french boxoffice hit is about the.
Miguel delibes in australia on the 60 th anniversary of the publication of his first novel. Ive seen this beautiful film several times on amazon prime. In eric guirados film the grocers son, a young man, handsome, independent. It is summer, and antoine cazale is forced to leave the city to return to his family in provence. Because the characters are well sculpted, the film is able to hold the viewers.
Ultimately, this surprise french boxoffice hit is about the comingofage of a man. Antoine heads back to the french mountain town at the behest of his brother. Released by film movement french with english subtitles france. The film was directed and cowritten by eric guirado, who reportedly followed and observed country grocers on their routes. There is love between father and son in this film, but it is never directly expressed, a problem that reaches beyond class and country. Fresh produce for ratatouille, please, but no attitude. The grocers son, the sophomore film by french director eric guirado, is no exception. Presented in partnership with the columbia maison francaise. Director guirado pays loving attention to the famously lush landscapes of provence, showcasing to dazzling effect one of frances most. By ronnie scheib, variety the grocers son is an unalloyed pleasure, start to finish. The welldiggers daughter directed by daniel auteuil, 2012. The role garnered him a jury award for best actor at the newport international film festival.
The grocers son is just too good at portraying the dismal side of country life to then be able to turn around and romance us with postcard images and wistful sighs. The term coming of age always seems to apply to teenagers. Nicolas cazale and clotilde hesme in the grocers son. The instructor reserves the right to change the films shown andor the order of showing. Hollywood would have probably added tanks, sex and aliens to this film.
He was cast as reda, a frenchmoroccan teenager, in the 2004 film le grand voyage. A warmhearted tribute to a disappearing way of life, the unhurried grocers son is a well acted film where the journey is more important than the final destination. Audrey tautou stars in a romantic comedy that proves true love is priceless. The cinematography is thankfully simple and unobtrusive, ensuring that there is nothing indulgent or forced about the film, allowing the french country lifestyle to be depicted naturally. Arthouse fans charmed by the station agent and pieces of april should be sure to add film movements the grocers son to their scottsdale international film festival ticket shopping list which was inspired by both director eric guirados love of road movies such as the wim wenders classic paris. Cazale with clotilde hesme in eric guirados film the grocers son. A noteworthy performance by eric guirado makes this gently pastoral film a moving comingofage story.
In 1975, he won the pulitzer prize for distinguished criticism. Valley of love directed by guillaume nicloux, 2015. The grocers second son is like a prodigal son that just doesnt seem to be able to please. When his father gets sick, handsome antoine is forced to return home to bucolic provenae with claire, whom he secretly loves, to take over the family business. Clotilde hesme in the grocers son 2007 nicolas cazale and clotilde hesme in the.
In fact, they coined the termor, to be precise, the lumiere brothers did, when they named their first motion picture camera le cinematographe back in the 1890s. French filmmakers seem to take things at their own pace, do things very much their own way, and this ohsosimple meandering film is so much the better for it. Speaking of culture, the french have been huge contributors to the art and advancement of cinema from the very beginning. Films on the green presents the grocers son french culture. Paul has no faith in his son, martin, to inherit his prestigious family wine estate. The storyline is not going to surprise anyone, though the denouement would not pass muster in the harder british cinema where the hero would be killed by a feral skinhead gang. I fell in love with the movie when the prodigal son began to realize how much the. The spanish and portuguese section of the department of languages at flinders university and the program for cultural cooperation between the ministry of culture of spain and the australian national university cordially invite you to the symposium. The french countrysidethe family store in a small town, the large hills and fields. It is summer, and thirtyyearold antoine is forced to leave the city to return to his family in provence. While one could argue that is has been three decades since such a backtonature theme was in vogue, it makes for an effective background to the story of how one man, when freed from the stresses associated with living in a city, is able to reconnect with his family, the inhabitants of the countryside. The grocers son, a french film set in the sunny countryside of the rhone alps, also explores the fatherson theme, succeeding more fully because it allows us to get an inside look at some of the areas elderly.
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