The full title of this film is "Manon des Sources. Part II of Jean de Florette". The original version of "Manon des Sources" in 1951 was directed by Marcel Pagnol and told the story in one four hour long marathon. Later Pagnol elaborated the story in his novel "L'eau des Collines". In 1986 this was made into the two-part film under the faultless direction of Claude Berri. The two films were made in succession so they can quite rightly be regarded as two parts of the same film. Unfortunately hints and clues abound in part I making part II little more than a perfunctory exercise, albeit admirably performed by masters of the art, with an inevitable unfolding of events. After the death of Jean the teenage Manon (Emannuelle Beart) tends a herd of mountain goats in the hills above César's farm whilst her absent mother is a member of an opera company in Marseilles. As she grows up Manon gradually pieces together bits of village gossip until she realises how the villagers have remained silent while César connived to get the piece of land and spring from her parents' farm. She then accidentally stumbles on a way of getting her own back but with unexpected consequences. By the end of the first hour the film drags due to the slow telling of the story and also the sparsity of characters. Suddenly it comes to life as we meet many of the other villagers including the mayor and the priest. There is so little to tell that it pales in comparison with Jean de Florette despite possessing many of the qualities of that film i.e. superb acting, direction and photography. It is little more than an ending tacked on. As even the twist at the end was signalled in Part I, I would have preferred a single but longer film telling the whole story at one viewing. I was surprised at the large number of reviewers who found the final twist unexpected; I can only conclude that today's cinema audience, having been weaned on films in which everything is explicitly stated, is unable to read messages hidden in the film.
I am glad to report that the problems with subtitling I commented on in J de F have are no longer apparent apart from the intrusion of "orology"; also the occupation of Jean's father is now satisfactorily rendered as "blacksmith" in place of the previous cryptic "farrier".
I have not seen the 1951 version but critics consider it better than J de F and M des S. Let's not forget that Pagnol was The Master so perhaps his way was the right way? I wish they would put his version on TV one day then we can tell for ourselves.
I am glad to report that the problems with subtitling I commented on in J de F have are no longer apparent apart from the intrusion of "orology"; also the occupation of Jean's father is now satisfactorily rendered as "blacksmith" in place of the previous cryptic "farrier".
I have not seen the 1951 version but critics consider it better than J de F and M des S. Let's not forget that Pagnol was The Master so perhaps his way was the right way? I wish they would put his version on TV one day then we can tell for ourselves.