I love these simple, old-timey, bucolic films set in the French countryside. The landscapes are always spectacular and the quality of the light makes every scene look dazzlingly beautiful. I was not surprised to find out this is another Marcel Pagnol adaptation. I can't help but love these deep, fleshed-out peasant characters with their twangy accents, played by the likes of Daniel Auteuil. Add some fresh young talent and flesh, and everything's in place for a perfect piece of heritage cinema.

The tone of this first picture by Auteuil really seems weird -- the images are desolated, the dialogues and actors are funny --, but I prefer to see it as an ability to take this WWII drama less seriously, with comedy making fun of these many talks about honour, family legacy, paternity, virnigity and the ridiculously tough distance between poor and rich people.