East of Marseille: Jean de Flourette and Manon of the Spring

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One of Fuck You I'm From Texas Film Talk's favorite bands The Hickoids is playing a date in Marseille, France next Friday 8/16/19. So, for those of us old s'en tenir à la boue back home, how about a couple of great movies filmed right about east of Marseille? I'm talking about Jean de Florette and the sequel Manon of the Spring.
These films would be perfect to watch at the Varsity back on the drag. But, those old good times are pas plus. Oh, well. We can still stream and dream.

First, the books. "In Jean de Florette and Manon of the Springs, Marcel Pagnol (called by Andre Malraux "one of the great writers of our generation" and by Jean Renoir "the leading film artist of his age") achieves the fullest and most satisfying expression of a story that haunted him for years, a Provencal legend of vengeance exacted by a mysterious sheperdess. Pagnol brings to his treatment of this powerful, moving story his dramatist's sense of place, ambience, and character and his keen understanding of the Provencal countryside and its people."


"Then, the films. "directed by Claude Berri, based on a novel by Marcel Pagnol. It is followed by Manon des Sources. The film takes place in rural Provence, where two local farmers plot to trick a newcomer out of his newly inherited property. The film starred three of France's most prominent actors – Gérard Depardieu, Daniel Auteuil, who won a BAFTA award for his performance, and Yves Montand in one of his last roles."
"The film was shot back to back with Manon des Sources, over a period of seven months. At the time the most expensive French film ever made, it was a great commercial and critical success, both domestically and internationally, and was nominated for eight César awards, and ten BAFTAs."
So, if you've got a spare five or six hours, these two can be streamed on Amazon Prime. Thanks, Jeffs. Bezos and Smith.


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