Germain, the heavyset man living in a provincial town, has always been an awkward person. Not too versed in social graces, he appears to be a happy man with what nature gave him. Germain, in spite of the impression he gives to others, has always been taken for granted, even by his mother, a lady that showed no special interest in Germain as a small boy, until a lover dared to be mean to him, then she became a tigress.
As the story unfolds, Germain is a man that in addition to his vegetable garden, works at odd jobs to make a living. People love to take advantage of him because they perceive him as not all there. Germain is most happy at the park where he goes regularly to check on his nineteen pigeon. He has names for all of them. One day, he sits next to an older lady who comes to spend time at the park. Margueritte loves to read. She is currently reading "The Plague" by Albert Camus. When she cites a passage she likes, Germain listens with such attention, he is almost reliving what the older woman is saying.
Germain lives in a trailer that is situated in the garden of the house he used to share with his mother. Now an older woman, she shows symptoms of dementia. In flashbacks we get to see their relationship, never an easy one, as well as Germain's days in school where he was tormented by a teacher who did not how to reach the young boy. Ridiculing Germain made him the butt of all jokes from his class mates. Now, as a grown man, he has a love interest in Francine, a bus driver, a much younger woman.
It is through Margueritte that Germain comes to life. She reads to him the books she loved. She lives in a retirement home that is expensive and her relatives are against keeping her there. To make matters worse, Margueritte is losing her sight. When the older woman suddenly stops coming to the park, Germain goes to investigate, only to find out she has been taken to a nursing home in Belgium, near where her relatives live. Germain cannot accept the idea of losing Margueritte and takes it upon himself to bring her to his home for the reminder of her days.
A beautiful and uplifting film by Jean Becker, a director that loves to take subtle stories and give them a life of their own. The source of the material was a novel by Marie-Sabine Roger. The director and Jean-Loup Dabadie adapted it for the screen and turned it into a sort of ode to the friendship between two unlike people that come together out of mutual respect and admiration. It is a feel good movie that can be enjoyed by all kinds of audiences.
Gerard Depardieu with his new bulk is perfect as Germain, the man that has been misunderstood all his life. He does not have to pretend anything with Margueritte for she never asks anything of him. Gisele Casadesus, a veteran actress in her nineties, matches Mr. Depardieu in ways that surprise us. Having worked with Mr. Becker before, she proves an invaluable asset, and a perfect casting to the film. Both Mr. Depardieu and Ms. Casadesus give exquisite performances. Maurane plays Francine, the young woman in love with Germain.
A heart warming film for audiences young and old thanks to Jean Becker's vision.
As the story unfolds, Germain is a man that in addition to his vegetable garden, works at odd jobs to make a living. People love to take advantage of him because they perceive him as not all there. Germain is most happy at the park where he goes regularly to check on his nineteen pigeon. He has names for all of them. One day, he sits next to an older lady who comes to spend time at the park. Margueritte loves to read. She is currently reading "The Plague" by Albert Camus. When she cites a passage she likes, Germain listens with such attention, he is almost reliving what the older woman is saying.
Germain lives in a trailer that is situated in the garden of the house he used to share with his mother. Now an older woman, she shows symptoms of dementia. In flashbacks we get to see their relationship, never an easy one, as well as Germain's days in school where he was tormented by a teacher who did not how to reach the young boy. Ridiculing Germain made him the butt of all jokes from his class mates. Now, as a grown man, he has a love interest in Francine, a bus driver, a much younger woman.
It is through Margueritte that Germain comes to life. She reads to him the books she loved. She lives in a retirement home that is expensive and her relatives are against keeping her there. To make matters worse, Margueritte is losing her sight. When the older woman suddenly stops coming to the park, Germain goes to investigate, only to find out she has been taken to a nursing home in Belgium, near where her relatives live. Germain cannot accept the idea of losing Margueritte and takes it upon himself to bring her to his home for the reminder of her days.
A beautiful and uplifting film by Jean Becker, a director that loves to take subtle stories and give them a life of their own. The source of the material was a novel by Marie-Sabine Roger. The director and Jean-Loup Dabadie adapted it for the screen and turned it into a sort of ode to the friendship between two unlike people that come together out of mutual respect and admiration. It is a feel good movie that can be enjoyed by all kinds of audiences.
Gerard Depardieu with his new bulk is perfect as Germain, the man that has been misunderstood all his life. He does not have to pretend anything with Margueritte for she never asks anything of him. Gisele Casadesus, a veteran actress in her nineties, matches Mr. Depardieu in ways that surprise us. Having worked with Mr. Becker before, she proves an invaluable asset, and a perfect casting to the film. Both Mr. Depardieu and Ms. Casadesus give exquisite performances. Maurane plays Francine, the young woman in love with Germain.
A heart warming film for audiences young and old thanks to Jean Becker's vision.