Jean de Florette (1986)

Often dubbed (in the usual patronising way) 'the most popular foreign language film of all time', this classic tale, charming and haunting in equal measure, is well worth a watch. There are few people I can see not enjoying this, even if it does not quite measure up to other 'foreign language classics'.

The story focuses on Jean (Gerard Depardieu), a city-dweller, who inherits some property in rural, picturesque, Provence and his attempts to make a life there. Against him stand the elements, in the form of the dry, hot, Provencale weather and the locals, in the form of the cunning and two-faced Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) and Papet (Yves Montand), Jean regrettably being oblivious to the latter.

This is a genuinely classic tale of human struggle in the ongoing battle for survival. Does Jean win? Well, you'll just have to watch to find out. The drama is compelling and the characters are as deeply and subtly drawn as the lines on the sun worn faces of the Provencale characters who flood the film. Depardieu is undoubtedly the star turn, though, oddly, he is given less to do than Auteuil and Montand who are both utterly watchable as the villains of the piece, especially Auteuil.

There are some stark and shocking scenes which live long in the memory after the curtain falls and a strange tension lurks throughout, brilliantly depicted under the wide, acquamarine, skies of Provence which would (in lesser hands) promise a lighter and more delicate touch. This is hugely to the director's (Claude Berri's) credit. Some things, however, don't quite sit right and you are left questioning the actions of some of the characters (and some of the results) more than you should and these, combined, suggest a higher B grade rather than an A.

There are strong messages here about what corrupts, what endures and what could prevail in humankind's ongoing battle to survive in an ultimately hostile environment. This doesn't at all feel like a political film, but it is. And, in a world where 50,000 people die each day from preventable causes, it offers lessons that ought not to be forgotten.

B+

Oh, it also produced a sequel, which I'm just going to go downstairs and watch!