The Well-Digger’s Daughter

In person: Jean-Pierre Daroussin!

Daniel Auteuil, who shot to international fame for his work in the Claude Berri adaptations of Marcel Pagnol’s Jean de Florette and Manon des sources, returns to Pagnol for his first work as a director. Pascal Amoretti (Auteuil), a hard-scrabble well-digger, holds a special place in his heart for his oldest child, Patricia (a lovely performance by newcomer Astrid Bergès-Frisbey). But Patricia has also attracted the attention of Jacques (Nicolas Duvauchelle), son of a prosperous shopkeeper. Their attraction quickly blossoms into something more, but then Jacques, a pilot, goes off to fight in the Great War—leaving Patricia behind to deal with the consequences of their brief moment of passion. Shot in the beautiful landscapes of the Vauclose, The Well-Digger’s Daughter beautifully captures the humanist spirit of Pagnol: there are no villains here, and each character tries to do their best with the hand they feel has been dealt to them. The cast also includes Jean-Pierre Daroussin, Sabine Azema, and Kad Merad.