Ugolin (played by Daniel Auteuil) comes back from the war and finds himself inspired while living with his rich uncle, “Papet” (Yves Montand). He keeps his scheme under wraps until he’s ready to reveal it, then presents Papet with some meticulously grown carnations. It turns out there's a profit to be made in flowers, but they require an enormous amount of water. A lot of it. Papet realizes their grumpy neighbor migh…

This film is really quite impressive; it might be among the finest French movies I’ve encountered all year, and it makes me eager to see the next installment, which I hear is even better. At its core, the story follows a wealthy farmer in Provence who uses clever tricks to acquire land from his neighbor at a low price. The owner isn't prepared for this kind of pressure, and after he dies not long afterward, the prope…

Jean de Florette stands out as a truly remarkable French film from the eighties, and it's easy to see why it’s so highly regarded. I can’t recall another movie that portrays wickedness with such finesse; particularly regarding themes of avarice, envy, and self-interest. It doesn't function as a thriller at all, but rather an absorbing drama that pulls you in through its well-developed characters and heartbreaking nar…