Jean de Florette / Manon of the Spring

French filmmaker Claude Berri enjoyed the greatest success of his estimable career with this two-part 1986 adaptation of Marcel Pagnol's titular novels spanning two generations. Gérard Depardieu is the title character in Jean de Florette, a hunchbacked city dweller who inherits a lovely piece of rural property that neighbors Cesar (Yves Montand), a weathered, childless old man, and his gnomish nephew, Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil), expected to buy cheap after the death of the original owner. Jean wants to give his wife and child a better life in the country, but Cesar and Ugolin block the spring on the land, forcing Jean to haul water from a faraway stream like a beast of burden, an effort that will eventually result in his death. Manon of the Spring opens 10 years later, with Emmanuelle Béart as Manon, Jean's grown daughter, who discovers the treachery that killed her father and plots her revenge. Set and filmed in the green hills of Provence, the narrative transforms from a tale of hope and possibility into a drama of pitiless retribution with a devastatingly tragic twist. Here, the villains are full, rounded personalities, and Berri reminds us that the villagers are almost as culpable due to their silence. One of the most beloved French imports to reach the U.S., this powerful double feature boasts vivid characters, heartbreaking performances, and a compelling story that is simply and elegantly told. Although the films were released individually in theaters, they were made together and meant to be viewed as a single work. Bowing on Blu-ray, this is highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)