Customer Reviews

Jean De Florette / Manon of the Spring (Double Feature)

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm editing my review. In my case, I'm an obsessive fan of these movies, and maybe nothing would've met my expectations. If you haven't seen these films, buy this DVD IMMEDIATELY! You will not be sorry, and more than likely you'll find my criticisms baseless and nit-picky.

I wrote the original after skipping around the discs and being extremely disappointed by what I saw. Since then, I've sat down and watched both movies on this disc and my opinion has changed somewhat. The problem was my expectations, not the actual product.

On the whole, these films DO look fantastic when compared to every other DVD release available (MGM and the R2 Pathe discs from France). However, they don't look nearly as good as I believe possible. I think this film deserves the royal treatment, an all new, high definition transfer by seriously skilled people.

Unfortunately, while the resolution is good, it is anamorphic, and appears to be a straight NTSC transfer (and not a PAL-to-NTSC conversion as I previously thought), there is just something not right. The colors are way too hot when compared to the actual film, and there just seems to be a layer of fuzz or blur over the whole thing that is not present on the big screen.

I give it 5 stars because the films are fantastic. The two greatest foreign films I've ever seen. I've watched them each about 15 times, and never grow tired of them. I pretty much learned French watching these movies.

However, this DVD seriously lacks. This movie is in dire need of a new and improved subtitle translation. While the subtitles make sense on the whole, I've studied the French script, and there is a great deal missing in the translation.

There are no special features.

For YEARS, these films have been out of print in America, the originals going for upwards of $50 a piece on ebay. Clearly someone was paying attention and realized there's enough people who enjoy this movie to make it available again. But slapping this set together, while allowing new viewers the opportunity to see the films, is an insult to fans who've waited a LOOOONG time for a proper American release. But a cheap release is better than none at all.

Caveat: Perhaps if enough people buy this DVD, MGM will wake up and release a proper special edition. For $14, it's a great deal for two masterpieces, but we could've done better than this.

For those who haven't seen these films originally released in the 80s, I give them my highest review. They're well worth seeing and everything from the story to the characters to the beautiful cinematography in the French village and countryside is exceptional. Another reviewer pointed out that the translation is a bit off in the subtitles. I've watched these films many times over the years both with and without subtitles and while there are obvious differences, I don't have a problem with them to the extent that the other reviewer did. Examples of differences that I picked up are quoting lengths in inches (presumably for an American audience) rather than the original centimeters. Several slang terms and phrases are also not translated literally sometimes eliminating little jokes and so on, but I don't think that detracts from the film at all.

Now as for the packaging, this new release is bare bones. Technically the picture, and sound are improved over previous releases in my opinion. It's presented in widescreen though not in an HD format. Refer to the other reviews for the technical mumbo-jumbo, but it looked great to me. The two subtitling choices are English and Spanish. Jean de Florette is on one side of the disc and the sequel on the other. That's it. There's nothing else. They could certainly have dome more here, but for the price, who's complaining?

Highly recommended!!!!! (one exclamation point for each star)

Two big steps forward, and one 1/2 step back. Contrary to the impression from the disc specs on the back of the jacket, the new MGM/Fox double feature disc DOES present the films 16:9 enhanced. They are also, surprisingly a big step up from the earlier R2 PAL discs , which for the longest time were the only way to satisfyingly watch these on a widescreen display or front projector.
Unfortunately they still aren't a home run. The picture in general consistently looks a little too 'hot' - contrast is jacked up which blows out the details in the highlights in many shots- also there is an at times over bearing yellow tint to the image in the countryside exteriors. Some EE and ringing are also visible in a few shots. Fine detail on the other hand is much improved over the PAL disc and artifacts related to compression are a monumental improvment over the first MGM release.
These should have been color timed a bit cooler- but on the whole, this new release easily represents the most watchable versions of these two classics yet (at least, not counting the widescreen Image laserdisc set that is now long out of print).

Its a shame that this release is so close, and yet still misses the mark. At least this one will suffice for a few years until the film are (hopefully) properly presented on one or both of the High Def formats.
The films themselves get 5 stars easy- the new disc gets 3.5 for PQ and AQ.

These two movies combined are the most beautiful I have ever seen in every respect. Gerard Depardieu has long since established himself in many genres, but as the poor guy who takes all the hard knocks and keeps on getting back up again, he's as good as they get. Emanuelle Beart is absolutely gorgeous as (adult) Manon, the scenery of the Luberon is amazing, and when I was offered a chance to visit that area by friends in France I jumped at it purely based on the wonderful memories of this movie experience. I had been hoping to get a copy on dvd for as long as dvds have been an option and have had the book for many years now. I am a true fan of this very special story which surely could not be depicted any more beautifully than it is here.

Claude Berri's two seminal films of Marcel Pagnol's literary classic need to be seen as one single piece of work. In sheer breadth of thematic scope and in their exploration of the unintended long-term consequences of human actions through generations, these fine works are right up there in the top ten best films of all time, in any language. Unfolding like a Shakespearean tragedy, the story reveals how a lost letter combined with deceitful, selfish actions from ultimately non-malign motives eventually bring catastrophe on an extended family and a whole community. When the audience learns a vital piece of information missing from the history at the same time as one of the principal characters (played by the excellent Yves Montand in his final cinematic role) some part-redemption is earned when the scale of the personal tragedy is fully realised in the final reel, but it's still epic tragedy and poignant beyond almost anything else in world cinema. "As ye sow, so shall ye reap" is the message, but it's far from simplistic moralising: these characters are deep, complex with many shades of grey, and in no way "good guy/bad guy" caricatures. They are real people, like you and me, and their tragic story is that of the human condition.

"Jean" and "Manon" form one continuous story with a 10-year time gap. You absolutely must see them both, and in the correct order. On no account should you see "Manon" before seeing "Jean" first. Ideally, the films should be paced over two nights, but at the end of "Jean" you might be unable to contain your burning curiosity about what happens in the sequel, "Manon", so may choose to see both films back-to-back in a single four-hour sitting. The films are best watched in the original French so as to keep the subtleties and nuances of the original dialogue; the script is not over-wordy and the English subtitling is (with a few minor niggles) mostly accurate to the original.

The cinematography and the Provencal locations: breathtaking. The storyline: absorbing, deep, slow-paced, gripping. Acting: absolutely first-class from Gerard Depardieu, Yves Montand, Daniel Auteuil (an oscar-worthy performance playing brilliantly out of character), Emanuelle Beart (though playing a solitary and barely literate shepherdess she has few lines, the sheer power of her presence dominates "Manon") and the rest of the cast. Script: word-perfect, nothing superfluous. Soundtrack: languid, appropriate, mood-setting perfection. Direction: career-defining; an object lesson to young directors of how to reveal a story through novelistic character development in the cinematic medium.

These films teach us something about ourselves: to what consequences our actions may lead, how we may not know what we think we know, and what a difference it might make if we did; people are complex, a mix of good and not-so-good; nothing is black-and-white, and sometimes only in the long-term can the truth be seen.

Caution: there are no explosions, car chases, cartoon violence or sex scenes (though there is one scene in "Manon" of the stunningly beautiful Emanuelle Beart cavorting outside in the buff, which is absolutely essential to the story); no profane language. But watching these films will be one of the greatest cinematic experiences of your life, so savour the occasion and view it as special, because it will be.

When my son, a 4th year French student, invited me to watch these movies with him, I was totally uninterested, but finally agreed, just to shut him up. I said I would just watch the first one "Jean De Florette". It took about 15 minutes to get used to reading the subtitles, but after that I was totally immersed in this fantastic film. In fact, when "Jean De Florette" ended, I was so "into" the story line that I insisted on watching "Manon" immediately after. The ending was, for me, a total surprise, which just added to the pleasure I received from watching it. I have now bought my own set, and have watched it another 6 times, and each time I get more out of it. Do yourself a huge favor and buy this set. You'll love it!

I think back on the first time I saw this movie. When it got to the end I just sat there, almost unable to move. I had so many emotions and thoughts processing in my little head that I'm sure that's why my body felt immobile.
This story has *everything*! The acting is superb. If you're not used to foreign films with subtitles give it a chance. After the first 30 minutes you don't even realize they're speaking french.
I have told so many people about this movie (and I mean both movies combined)I waited for years for this combined dvd. Thank you!
I love movies and whenever someone asks me "What's your favorite movie of all time?" I always say "Gee, I have so many favorites, but if I had to choose one it would be Jean De Florette/Manon of the Spring!" So many people have never even heard of it.
I recommend that you set aside 4 quiet hours(a rainy afternoon, a day off from work, perhaps) without interruption so that you can focus on this fabulously told story.

Jean de Florette," (1986), and its sequel (although, really, it's simply a continuation of the story), MANON OF THE SPRING, constitute a singular French drama, a mouth-watering, award-winning color film. It is set apparently, in the early 20th century, in Provence, in the gorgeous, fertile south of France, and tells a bittersweet tale of life among the peasantry of the time. It is based on a novel, with which I am not familiar, by the noted French author Marcel Pagnol, with whose work, I regret, I am also not familiar, although I believe the author was also a screenwriter of note. It was adapted for the screen and directed by Claude Berri. The original score was written, and performed by Jean-Claude Petit and his orchestra; there are musical snatches throughout of the opera La forza del destino by Guiseppi Verdi.

Central to the tale are the schemings of Cesar Soubeyran, known as "Le Papet" locally, wealthy, almost last survivor of a dynasty of hard-working, successful peasants, and treated with great respect in the village. As played by the magnetic, older Yves Montand, (The Wages of Fear (The Criterion Collection)), he is as hard a man as his long life has made him. Then, his possibly not all there nephew Ugolin, played by Daniel Auteil, always so successful at playing not particularly bright characters (The Closet [DVD] [2001]) comes home from his stint in the army. The older man is anxious to see his nephew married, with children, settled locally, and making a living before his illnesses end his life. Accordingly, Cesar has his eye on a plot of land that adjoins his holdings, and several healthy looking girls in the village.

But the land the Soubeyran family covets is sold to an outsider, a tax collector civil servant, a luckless hunchback played by the magnificent Gerard Depardieu, (Green Card [1991])who comes bearing some regulation outsiders' French name, and a family to support. However, if Jean had been called by the name he should have been in the village, had they known who he really was, he would have been known locally as Jean de Florette, the title character. At any rate, the Soubeyrons, Cesar and Ugolin, pretend to befriend and help the naive and generous hunchback, who is inexperienced in farming, but has many ambitious plans, some of which are entirely unsuited for the location. Nevertheless,the Soubeyrons secretly work against the would-be farmer, most importantly by depriving him of water.

Greedy, cruel behavior to be sure, with tragic consequences. MANON picks up the story of the Soubeyran family, as a tale of revenge. . We begin "Manon" with a glimpse of the title character, the daughter of Jean de Florette., in the person of the beautiful Emmanuelle Beart(Nathalie[2003]). After the death of her father, which she believes was caused by the Soubeyrans, she has grown up largely on her own, as her mother has had to seek work elsewhere. Manon is rather an uneducated wild child as a result: she has kept herself alive by being a shepherdess, in addition hunting small birds for sale. She decides to take revenge against the village that allowed the Soubeyrans to behave as they did, and deprives the village of its water, causing great chaos and consternation. Ugolin is deeply in love with her, but she, of course, will have nothing to do with him: she rather fancies the handsome young local schoolteacher, who is, however, miles above her in the village's social order.

The film(s) are moving, powered by the work of their stars, as these characters work out their destinies, and reach a somewhat surprising conclusion: not the one for which Cesar had hoped, but one he can appreciate. Their visual leitmotif, the red carnations, will stick in your mind long afterwards. JEAN was nominated for a Golden Globe, and won several other awards. The films may be thought to have dated a bit, to be a bit too reliant on coincidence. Still, they seem to me grounded in reality. We watch the first telephones and automobiles creep into town, the appearance of new styles of dress. And I believe that French peasants, any peasants really, have historically wanted only certain things: land, with water on it; real gold, not paper scrip, and the success and survival of their families. A memorable piece of film-making that deals with great issues and truths in its way, and an enjoyable one, too.

This film is a wonderful story of greed, fate and survival set in Provence, France. The film, Jean de Florette and the sequel, Manon of the Spring will be sure to captivate you from beginning to end.

The films have such a stellar French cast: Yves Montand, Gerard Depardieu, Daniel Auteuil and Emmanuelle Beart.

The first film is the story of Jean Cadoret (Gerard Depardieu) who inherits a farm in Provence from his mother. He is, however, unaware that his neighbor, Cesar Doubeyran (Yves Montand) covets his farm for his godson (Daniel Auteuil) and plots to steal it from him no matter the cost.

Manon of the Spring picks up the story 10 years later with Jean Cadoret's daughter (Emmanuelle Beart) realizing that Cesar was directly responsible for her father's death and then plots her revenge.

This film is not just for lovers of French films. The film is in French but does have subtitles in English and Spanish. Well worth the price for any film buff!

This movie was rated number one in the "French movie" reviews. It is easy to see why... Very well written, very well played and very well set; it has many profound life lessons in it. Very emotionally provoking, you see how the love of money is the root of all evil. You see the truth of how when one digs a pit for another, he falls in it himself. You see the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men. Also, you see that life is truly not always fair. One gets to see how small minded people can be, and how closed and hard one can become because of darkness of thought and selfishness of heart.
Anyway, if you are into meaning in life, watch this show;)