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      Manon of the Spring

      PG Released Nov 5, 1986 1h 54m Drama List
      77% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 93% Audience Score 5,000+ Ratings Manon (Emmanuelle Béart), a beautiful shepherdess in Provence, France, has lost her father and seen her family's livelihood ruined through the greediness of her neighbors: Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) and his grandfather, Cesar (Yves Montand). Now grown and living in isolation from the village, she plots revenge against the men for their misdeeds. Her plot is complicated by Ugolin, who has fallen in love with her -- but Manon's retribution will not be deterred. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Gavin Bainbridge Empire Magazine Another aching heartbreaker of a film by Berri that absorbs and rewards the audience for sticking with Manon on her sun-beaten quest. Rated: 4/5 Aug 14, 2012 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Berri also remains a boringly uninteresting director, dotting every i and crossing every t with nothing much on his mind but platitude. Aug 14, 2012 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Berri is unable to overcome the inherent feebleness of the Manon character, here played ineffectually by the lovely and talented Emmanuelle Beart. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) This film is a cassoulet: smoky. nutritious, and succulent, ideal for a cold winters night. [Full review in Spanish] Jul 8, 2022 Full Review Ángel Luis Inurria El Pais (Spain) It makes a great mistake in its epilogue, accumulating and revealing surprises, giving it the feeling of a cheap melodrama. [Full Review in Spanish] Apr 21, 2020 Full Review Hilary Mantel The Spectator Claude Bern's direction is confident and controlled, and the performances of Daniel Auteuil and Yves Montand have great authority; but perhaps the casting of Emmanuelle Bean is less happy. Apr 9, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Leaburn O Somehow not quite as good as part one but ties everything up. What I initially considered a Greek tragedy plays out more as a Dickensian novel. A couple of excellent films and delighted to own them on DVD. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/13/23 Full Review Matthew B If the viewer leaves Jean de Florette feeling dismayed at the injustice inflicted on the unfortunate Jean Cadoret, then Manon des Sources offers us the comfort of seeing justice finally served, and in the most poetic manner possible. Once again water is the source that moves the plot forward, as is reflected in the film's title, translated as ‘Manon of the Springs'. The action takes place several years after the events in the first part. This time the central character is Jean's daughter, Manon who has grown up into a young woman (Emmanuelle Béart). While rescuing one of her goats, Manon discovers a cave containing a spring that is the source for the entire village's water, including the Soubeyrans. Now it is her turn to block a spring, and it is the complacent villagers and the guilty Ugolin who will suffer as the water mysteriously stops. Before long Ugolin is desperately hauling buckets of water in an attempt to save his precious flowers. As for the villagers, they are forced to watch in dismay as everywhere the water dries up, even in the village fountain. At heart the film is about greed, but also the negative effects of pride and insular thinking. Papet and Ugolin are anti-intellectual, suspicious of book-reading, experts and new methods of farming. Most of all, they put their own family interests above those of their neighbours, and carry this to selfish levels. The villagers similarly look out for their own folk, and hold a bigoted attitude towards outsiders. However this attitude proves self-defeating. As I said earlier, the title of the first film, Jean de Florette is significant. As the son of a native of the village, Jean is intimately connected with the village, and even with Papet himself. What the film shows us is that we are all part of one large village, and when you discriminate against those from outside your own parochial area, you are in reality discriminating against your neighbour. Similarly, as the movie's final twist shows, the human race is all part of one big family, and when you promote the narrow interests of your own family at the expense of the happiness or lives of outsiders, you may discover that you are striking against your own kin. I wrote a fuller appreciation of Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources (with spoilers) on my blog page if you would like to read more: https://themoviescreenscene.wordpress.com/2018/08/09/jean-de-florette-manon-des-sources-1986/ Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/30/23 Full Review shannon l Along with Jean de Florette, these are my #1 film of all time. The ending is BRUTAL. Plan on weeping. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A movie that is as beautiful as it is tragic. One of my all time favorites! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Emmanuelle Beart is exquisite as the extension of the young Manon into the next chapter; Montand shows great heft as he rages against the truth and then succumbs Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Loved them both, superb. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Manon of the Spring

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Manon (Emmanuelle Béart), a beautiful shepherdess in Provence, France, has lost her father and seen her family's livelihood ruined through the greediness of her neighbors: Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) and his grandfather, Cesar (Yves Montand). Now grown and living in isolation from the village, she plots revenge against the men for their misdeeds. Her plot is complicated by Ugolin, who has fallen in love with her -- but Manon's retribution will not be deterred.
      Director
      Claude Berri
      Producer
      Pierre Grunstein
      Screenwriter
      Claude Berri, Gérard Brach
      Distributor
      MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Orion Pictures
      Production Co
      DD Productions, RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana, Films A2
      Rating
      PG
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      French (France)
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Nov 5, 1986, Original
      Release Date (DVD)
      Sep 14, 2009
      Runtime
      1h 54m
      Sound Mix
      Surround