So here's the concluding part of my Jean De Florette / Manon Des Sources review. I'm hoping you've read that one first; if not, go back and read it! This won't make sense unless you've read that one first, just as watching Manon Des Sources won't make much sense unless you've first watched ... Read review
Less a sequel than a seamless continuation of its predecessor,Jean de Florette,Manon des ... more
Sourcesbrings with it a more epic scope as it depicts the growth to womanhood of the daughter (Emmanuelle Béart) of the doomed farmer of the first film. As she dis...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The equally extraordinary, highly successful and award-winning sequel to Jean De Florette, ... more
based on the classic novel by Marcel Pagnol.The timeless story continues with the late Jean de Florette's daughter Manon (Emmanuelle Beart), now grown up into a ...
Less a sequel than a seamless continuation of its predecessor,Jean de Florette,Manon des ... more
Sourcesbrings with it a more epic scope as it depicts the growth to womanhood of the daughter (Emmanuelle Béart) of the doomed farmer of the first film. As she dis...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 1 to 3 weeks...
The equally extraordinary highly successful and award-winning sequel to Jean De Florette ... more
based on the classic novel by Marcel Pagnol. The timeless story continues with the late Jean de Florette's daughter Manon (Emmanuelle Beart) now grown up into a...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Less a sequel than a seamless continuation of its predecessor,Jean de Florette,Manon des ... more
Sourcesbrings with it a more epic scope as it depicts the growth to womanhood of the daughter (Emmanuelle Béart) of the doomed farmer of the first film. As she discovers the truth of what happened to her father as a result of the scheming of their neighbour (Yves Montand), who took the land for himself, she vows revenge, realising that the neighbour's deeds have irrevocably shaped the course of her life. Her moves toward avenging her father's demise provide an ironic twist to this harsh and thought-provoking saga, and French director Claude Berri perfectly illustrates the lasting consequences of deceit, greed, and revenge.Manon des Sourcesis a very special subtitled film-choice, destined to be revered for years to come. --Robert Lane
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: Even more emotional and an excellent continuation of the story Disadvantages: Darker than the first film
...my Jean De Florette / Manon Des Sources review. I'm hoping you've read that one first; if not, go back and read it! This won't make sense unless you've read that one first, just as watching Manon Des Sources won't make much sense unless you've first watched Jean De Florette. They're two parts of the same story, and really, this is just the second part of the same review.
Also, I have to warn you, it's virtually impossible to give any ... ...it.
So, Manon Des Sources. Again, it's directed by Claude Berri, adapted from the novel by Marcel Pagnol, and stars Yves Montand and Daniel Auteuil. This was released in the same year as the other, 1986, and this was also nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Baftas. Unfortunately, both films lost out in this category to Offret (from Sweden), whilst Jean De Florette picked up several major awards. I'm not really surprised due to the ... more
So here's the concluding part of my Jean De Florette / Manon Des Sources review. I'm hoping you've read that one first; if not, go back and read it! This won't make sense unless you've read that one first, just as watching Manon Des Sources won't make much sense unless you've first watched Jean De Florette. They're two parts of the same story, and really, this is just the second part of the same review.
Also, I have to warn you, it's virtually impossible to give any analysis of this film without revealing the major plot details of the first film, but I'll try my best not to ruin it.
So, Manon Des Sources. Again, it's directed by Claude Berri, adapted from the novel by Marcel Pagnol, and stars Yves Montand and Daniel Auteuil. This was released in the same year as the other, 1986, and this was also nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Baftas. Unfortunately, both films lost out in this category to Offret (from Sweden), whilst Jean De Florette picked up several major awards. I'm not really surprised due to the nature of both films, but personally I found Manon Des Sources to be the better film.
The story picks up roughly ten years after the events of the first part. Jean's daughter, Manon, has grown into a beautiful young woman (played by Emanuelle Béart). Whilst her mother has moved away to revive her career as an opera singer, Manon has remained in the hills of Provence, where she spends her days herding sheep and sleeps at the home of that elderly couple from the first film.
Meanwhile, in a neat progression from the first film, César and Ugolin (Montard and Auteuil) are both fairly wealthy now that Ugolin has a field full of carnations growing, as well as a plentiful supply of water to support his business. Ugolin watches Manon in the hills, leaves her dead animals as gifts, and professes his love for Manon to his uncle.
But Manon has her eye on the new schoolteacher in the village, and besides, she never really liked Ugolin since she was a young girl. As a young woman, she hates him more than ever, and gets revenge by blocking the local spring, thus depriving Ugolin and all the rest of the village of their only water supply, and anger soon turns to suspicion. Will the guilty be brought to justice and reveal their sins to the rest? It soon becomes clear that there is more to it than the villagers first think.
In many ways, Manon Des Sources is extremely similar to Jean De Florette, as you would expect. It looks the same, it feels pretty much the same, it keeps the same wonderful main theme, and all the fantastic acting from the two main leads remains.
However, I think there is one big change: the mood has become a lot more sombre. This is mainly due to the development of the plot; Manon's revenge is quite sinister and darkly ironic in its own way, and obviously the events of the last film still hang over all the characters.
There are also one or two big twists and surprises along the way which are genuinely emotional. The ending is particularly sad, since it puts a whole new light on everything that has happened over the two films, and makes the audience think about the tragic effect greed can have on people.
Manon Des Sources is generally a more adult film. Ugolin's love for Manon, which he realises will come to nothing, drives him mad, and he performs some bizarre acts, one of which is quite gruesome to watch. Daniel Auteuil grew a moustache to show the ten years of aging, and his performance is a lot more subdued and more serious than comic. His facial expressions are still manic and drippy, but also show how getting older has affected him.
That's not to say there aren't funny moments; the villagers are still amusing in their simple ways, especially in one scene where a geology expert comes to find the cause of the draught and holds a passionate public meeting.
Yves Montard gives another wonderfully natural performance as the aging César Soubeyran, and the new member of the cast, Emanuelle Béart, lights up the screen with her beauty. Her character is very strange, especially in comparison with the Manon of the first film, but she convinces as a wild, natural creature. She hardly speaks until the later stages of the film, but she does make some funny goat-herding noises, crawl around a lot, and at one point dance around naked.
That fantastic harmonica tune is still in evidence, and again is only used at exactly the right moments; maybe to even more emotional effect than its predecessor, if that's possible. The film also looks a lot darker visually (a lot of it takes place at dusk or inside caves), although it still has some stunning views of the hills and countryside.
As I said, I'm not surprised that Jean De Florette is more well-known and won more awards, since it has the star name of Gérard Depardieu, it's easier to enjoy, and it tells the main part of the story, making it possible to watch it as a stand-alone film. Manon Des Sources is really just an extension of that story (albeit a good extension), and relies on you having seen that film.
Personally though, I think this has more emotion, a better pace, and a twist that really puts the icing on the gateau, and perfectly finishes what is a truly wonderful story. The two films really are French cinema classics, and I'd thoroughly recommend them to viewers of any age, with or without any interest in foreign films.
The cheapest price you can buy this for online is £5.95, from www.dvd.co.uk. You can buy the two films together as a set for £11.97 from www.amazon.co.uk.
Directed by: Claude Berri
Starring:
Yves Montard … César Soubeyran Daniel Auteuil … Ugolin Emanuelle Béart … Manon Elisabeth Depardieu … Manon's mother
Running time : 113 minutes
Classification : PG (although it does have some violence and nudity)
Advantages: Powerful acting and a simple story produce a memorable film Disadvantages: Subtitles may put some off (don't be deterred)
Manon des Sources (subtitled Jean de Florette part 2) is the conclusion of the tale of Jean de Florette. The film begins some years after the finish of Jean de Florette. Manon (Emmanuel Beart) has grown into a beautiful young woman, but is wild and believed to be simple by the villagers, as she has chosen to live with a goatherd and his wife in the mountains.
She has not forgotten how Ugolin and Le Papet tricked her father or the dreadful way the ... ...kept hidden from him) when Manon finds the source of the stream that supplies water to the village she blocks it. As summer approaches the villagers become ever more desperate for water. The film builds up to an emotional and totally unexpected conclusion.
The saga of Jean de Florette is a tale of innocence, greed, revenge, inextinguishable spirit and also of tragic love. Behind the main thread of Manon is the story of two loves that are never expressed ...
indychick_uk 05.03.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Manon Des Sources (DVD)
Advantages: Another stunning film from Claude Berri Disadvantages: Subtitles - other than that none.
...did, which was to watch Manon des Sources before having seen Jean de Florette. Hehe :P
In my defence though this was because I was studying Manon des Sources for my French coursework and we simply didn't have time to watch Jean de Florette first. If you do do this, it's preferable to have a rough idea of what happened in the first film, though it won't hinder your understanding of the film terribly if you don't know what happened in the first one. ... ...on the eponymous role of Manon while Montand and Auteuil return to their roles of César (Le Papet) and Ugolin respectively. Montand, in particular, is outstanding in this film as he really manages to evoke a sense of sympathy towards the end of the film, despite his despicable actions we see the morals and values that lead him to take them.
Ugolin also, is an excellent character. This film contains many more tragic elements than the first in my ...
lora44 05.04.2005
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Manon Des Sources (DVD)
This sequel to 'Jean De Florette' continues the story as the hunchback's daughter exacts revenge on the men who plotted against her father. French dialogue. Based on a novel by Marcel Pagnol.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
PATHE DISTRIBUTION; 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
The second of two parts of the classic Marcel Pagnol story set in France in the mid-1920's. The daughter of a ruined farmer discovers the identity of the men who stopped up her father's well and plots revenge, eventually uncovering long forgotten family secrets. Follows "Jean De Florette."
Compare Manon Des Sources (DVD) to other similar Drama »