REVIEW: 'The Well-Digger's Daughter'

French romantic drama about young lovers separated by World War II and the class rift that divides their families. This is the first film directed by actor Daniel Auteuil, a remake of Marcel Pagnol's 1940 romantic comedy. Click here for session times.

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French actor Daniel Auteuil was catapulted to international stardom in movie adaptations of Marcel Pagnol’s novels Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources. A fine actor of great renown, The Well-Digger's Daughter is Auteuil’s directorial debut. A remake of Marcel Pagnol’s 1940 movie of the same name, Auteuil also adapted the script and plays Pascal, a hard-working widower, devoted to his six daughters.

Yes, in essence this is a simple story of a poor well digger’s daughter (Patricia Amoretti) who falls in love with a rich pilot (Jaques Mazel), but the wonder is in the telling and the delights in the detail. Set in wartime Provence, Auteuil’s precise direction ensures that not a moment of drama, romance or comedy are lost in a beautifully crafted tale that, bar the final scenes, succeeds in shirking maudlin sentimentality - largely due to a superb cast, in which Astrid Bergès-Frisbey shines as Auteuil’s much-maligned daughter, Patricia.

This is a gentle film that nonetheless has a great deal to say about class, honour, loyalty and love in portraying a feud between two families juxtaposed against the events of the First World War.

The score, by Alexandre Desplat, is the perfect accompaniment to the lush cinematography of Jean-Francois Robin which captures the Provence countryside in all its vibrant colour and natural glory. Plotwise, it may all wrap-up a bit too feel-good and trite for some tastes but, soppy ending aside, Auteuil delivers a fine slice of essential French cinematic delight - dramatic, funny, moving and tragic by turns. Magnifique.

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