Raisons d'étudier ce film 
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The second of a diptyche (pair of films which belong together) Manon des Sources follows on from Jean de Florette and stars Manon the beautiful young daughter of Jean who discovers what the locals particularly the Soubeyran had done to her father.    Partly comic partly tragic which is what characterizes the work of the writer Pagnol, Claude Berri turns out a film which is beautiful to watch although it frequently turns to melodrama.

L'intérêt du film
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A film which idealizes the landscape and the lifestyle of "authentic" peasants in the early 20th century, the film traces Manon's search for revenge against the Soubeyran who through their blocking of the stream on her father's land unintentionally caused his death.    She falls for the new instituteur Bernard who sees her whilst he is searching for geological specimens.  At the same time the pathetic Ugolin Soubeyran courts her in the most ridiculous manner, a process varying between the hilarious and the toe-curling.    The biggest surprise is reserved for the last scene of the film which confirms the tragic nature of the film.    An interesting film to study from the point of view of stereotypes of the peasantry to the relationship between countryside dwellers and their precious environment.

Visit the course