Customer Reviews

NEW Manon Of The Spring/jean De Fl (DVD)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While the picture is marvelous, and it is wonderful to finally be able to have it in widescreen, a word of caution to all fluent French speakers. Apparently MGM is not aware that there are people in North America who can speak French, and hence, despite all the promises, it is impossible to remove the wretched subtitles. (The options are 'English', 'Spanish', and 'None', but selecting 'None' merely gives you the English again.) For anyone who doesn't need said subtitles, this quite ruins it.

Jean de Florette Part One, and Manon of the Spring Part Two. tell a story of biblical proportions. Blinded by disappointment and bent on revenge Cesar Soubeyran, plots with his nephew and carries out his devious plan which is so cruel and deceptive it is astonishing. He succeeds in ruining the son of his lost love, the hunchback and his plot drives the man to his death. The young daughter Manon discovers the plot and grows up hating the evil men that drove her father to an early grave. In Manon of the Spring a young adult Manon now the local shepherdess overhears villagers regretting that they looked the other way and never told her father the truth. She realizes the entire village played a part in her family's ruin and her father's death. By chance she discovers the source of the water for the entire village and she blocks it and cuts them off as they did her father. The results are amazing!! The truth of her family's true history comes out and wounds of the past are revealed and clarified. Cesar discovers he deliberately destroyed his own dreams and wishes unwittingly. Manon rises above the desire for vengence and finds true happiness. Yves Montand is remarkable as Cesar, Gerard Depardieu delivers a geat performances as Jean the son of Florette, Emmanuelle Beart is magical as Manon, Filmed on location in Provence the scenery is breathtaking. This is Marcel Pagnol's finest achievement. Your cinematic experience is incomplete until you have experienced these mesmerizing films! This is unlike any film you've ever seen before!

4 hours of viewing pleasure! That's what the movies "Jean de Florette" and "Manon des Sources" are! Truly wonderful stories! You will want to watch part 2, "Manon des Sources" right after part 1 because you will want to know what is going to happen when Manon returns. Good picture quality and appropriate subtitles.

Brenda MacNeil

Great service and excellent product! It is nice to have both movies on the same disk. What can I say about these movies... If you haven't watched them, do yourself a favor and do so. The story is wonderful. Funny, sad and tragic--- everything one would expect from a classic French film. And...the acting is simply superb!

Thanks
Troy

I have loved this movie for decades and am so glad to finally own it to share with friends. Came on time and in great shape.

Two part film, that was 1st released as two separate features. Terrific telling of a complex story of intertwined farming families in rural France in the early part of the 20th century.

The acting is mostly of the highest order. Yves Montand, one of the most suave men in history is completely believable as a rough hewn, self-centered farmer, Gerard Depardieu, also cast against type, as a gentle, educated city born man trying to make it as a farmer also is astounding. Almost as good is Daniel Auteuil as Montand's not-very-bright son.

Only Emmanuelle Beart, gorgeous though she may be, doesn't quite convince me as the wild woman of the fields. Some of it is performance, some of it is how perfect she looks.

The story is wonderful in a Dickensian sort of way, with clues and character elements showing up early, only to pay off three hours later. I love the first part even more, somehow it feels more truly tragic and dense, the 2nd part just a bit too neat by the end. But still a grand, intelligent, great looking entertainment.

If you like foreign films, you won't want to miss these two movies. There are part one and two of the same story. I would rate them as the best French movies I have ever seen.

My order arrived quickly and in perfect condition. I was very happy with the transaction and would definitely order from thus company again.