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Manon of the Spring
Manon des sources
1986 115 min France, Italy PG 16+
★7.8
Drama
Director: Claude Berri
🎭 Based on
«Manon des sources»
byMarcel Pagnol
Trailers
Description
In this, the sequel to Jean de Florette, Manon has grown into a beautiful young shepherdess living in the idyllic Provencal countryside. She plots vengeance on the men who greedily conspired to acquire her father's land years earlier.
US Gross:
$3.94M
Starring
Yves Montand
Actor
Emmanuelle Béart
Actor
Daniel Auteuil
Actor
Awards
César Awards 1987
— Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA 1988
— Best International Feature Film
César Awards 1987
— Best Poster
Key opinion
Manon des Sources serves as a poignant, visually stunning conclusion to the Jean de Florette saga, effectively transforming the narrative into a profound exploration of retribution and human folly. While some critics feel the character development is rushed compared to its predecessor, the film is widely praised for its exceptional lead performances and evocative Provençal setting.
| Acting | Yves Montand and Daniel Auteuil deliver masterfully layered performances that anchor the emotional weight of the tragedy. | |
| Cinematography | The film utilizes the stunning, sun-drenched Provençal landscape to create an atmosphere of timeless, almost mythic beauty. | |
| Direction | Claude Berri’s direction skillfully maintains a cohesive, nostalgic, and penetrating tone that honors the original Pagnol source material. | |
| Theme | The narrative successfully elevates the story of personal vengeance into a universal, Greek-style tragedy about sins and their inevitable consequences. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: some view it as a perfectly linked extension of the first film, while others argue it suffers from rushed character arcs and a few implausible late-stage plot developments. |