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Wednesday, 29 April 2009

The Grocer's Son

is my latest French flick recommendation. 

This film is a gentle watch with all the right ingredients that make French movies such a pleasure. For a start the main character is pretty easy on the eye and the female counterpart is not bad either. The plot is nothing too heavy or violent with just the right amount of emotional angst to keep me happy. 

Prodigal son Antoine, returns reluctantly to help run the family small business after his father is bed ridden with a stroke. He must drive his father's mobile van to the nearby remote villages and fill the grocery orders of the locals - much to his distaste and boredom. He has no interest in this languishing trade and makes it very apparent to his elderly customers. With time and a little help from his love interest Claire, he learns humility and some worthy life lessons. The relationships in the film are beautifully developed and subtle - it is often more about what is not said than what is.

This film was a surprise box office success in France and the winner of several prestigious European awards and is simply about re-discovering life and love and becoming enamored with the French countryside. 

Short of a little vacation, this is the next best thing, xv.


on

40 comments:

  1. mimi charmante29 April 2009 at 18:45

    I have added it to my netflix queue!
    Merci mon amie~
    xo

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  2. A Gift Wrapped Life29 April 2009 at 19:06

    Will add to my foreign film list and see if it's available here, sounds wonderful and just the perfect easy-on-the-eyes flick for this weekend.

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  3. How very 29 April 2009 at 19:13

    I now have a movie for my girlfriends and I to watch together this weekend.
    thx

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  4. Debra29 April 2009 at 20:02

    Vicki~ Thanks for the tip! I too will add this to my netflix queue.

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  5. Shelly Beson29 April 2009 at 20:43

    I'm so gonna see that. Thanks, Shelly

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  6. Anonymous29 April 2009 at 21:14

    I love wonderful films like this! Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  7. Jen29 April 2009 at 21:22

    .....you had me at "remote villages of Provence...."
    :)

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  8. sunny29 April 2009 at 21:25

    Thank you so much for recommending this film. I added it to my Netflix queue. The site said it has a long wait...so I may watch it instantly. Based on your review, I know I'll love it! Thanks!!

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  9. ticklishfromadistance29 April 2009 at 21:47

    Thank you. So excited to see them.

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  10. La Belette Rouge29 April 2009 at 21:55

    Thanks for the heads up. I love a good French film. :-)

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  11. Alison Gibbs29 April 2009 at 22:41

    Mmmmm... very easy on the eye. I will have to watch out for it when it comes out here.
    Alison

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  12. Madame DeFarge29 April 2009 at 22:53

    Sounds good. I shall have to keep an eye out in the arthouse cinemas in London. I have a thing about films with subtitles. Always make more sense than films in English.

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  13. Topsy Turvy29 April 2009 at 23:09

    Vicki - this sounds like it's right up my alley - thanks!

    –Lana

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  14. Stephanie29 April 2009 at 23:16

    This looks like a good movie. Thanks for the recommendation.

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  15. studioJudith30 April 2009 at 00:06

    Sounds excellent ... .
    I,too, will add it to my queue!
    Jjj

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  16. hello gorgeous30 April 2009 at 01:32

    Oh, I will definitely watch.

    I loved "Au Revoir Les Enfants" to a ridiculous degree, so French film recs are appreciated.

    (Okay, I just realized how long ago that movie was so hopefully you will cut me some slack :-)

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  17. Mindy30 April 2009 at 01:44

    Sounds AND looks perfect!

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  18. david mcmahon30 April 2009 at 03:01

    Came here from Just A Plane Ride Away. Some lovely images on your site.

    Speaking of Provence on this review, that's one place I'd love to go with my cameras!

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  19. Callie Grayson30 April 2009 at 03:01

    I will add this to my queue as well! thanks, I am always up for a good french film.

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  20. Alicia @ boylerpf30 April 2009 at 03:10

    I will definitely look for this on Netflix. We are big foreign movie fans...especially the French ones. Thanks for the tip!

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  21. The Pink Poodle30 April 2009 at 04:44

    dear vicki...
    thanks for sharing this movie with us...
    shall try to find it here in OZ..should be lovely viewing now that winter is fast approaching..
    plus I can try to practise some french..or at least pretend to!!

    take care..xx andrea

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  22. annechovie30 April 2009 at 04:45

    This looks like a great film for me, Vicki. Thanks for the recommendation!

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  23. Kirsten Steen30 April 2009 at 05:36

    Just added it to my queue too! Thanks for this. Keep em coming!
    What other french films do you recommend?!
    Kirsten

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  24. Lee30 April 2009 at 08:53

    Thank you for pointing me in the right direction - next time I'm at the DVD store this will be my selection. It sounds wonderful! Lee :)

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  25. cotedetexas30 April 2009 at 09:24

    thanks for the tip!!! will look for it!

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  26. Brabourne Farm30 April 2009 at 09:51

    I absolutely loved this movie!

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  27. Marie Reed30 April 2009 at 09:52

    I'll have to look for this! The 'epicerie volant' van is hilarious!

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  28. benson30 April 2009 at 14:24

    this sounds wonderful! and a quick trip to Provence as a bonus:)

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  29. Jill GG30 April 2009 at 18:23

    I'll have to check it out! I was just thinking the other day I am "due" for a fab foreign film Thanks for the tip!

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  30. Anonymous1 May 2009 at 00:15

    My dear Vicky,

    What a delightful blog you have here! Thank you for your visit and for introducing me to your "French Essence". This movie sounds just great. It is on my list to search for this weekend. I hope I find it. I have to come back and savor with more time and hope you do not mind if I had you to my favorite "Sun Rooms" to visit. Merci!

    xoxo

    Isabel

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  31. from the right bank1 May 2009 at 02:19

    This is the kind of film that first made me a French film buff. It's also one of the (many) things I miss about living in France. Thankfully, everything travels and comes out in DVD much faster these days.

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  32. DolceDreams1 May 2009 at 06:47

    Oh it sounds divine, there is nothing like a great french film... many thanks for the recommendation.

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  33. Auntie sezzzzzz...1 May 2009 at 21:12

    Short of a little {film} vacation, in the French countryside. Heaven!!!!!

    Happy May,
    'Aunt Amelia'

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  34. Courtney1 May 2009 at 21:53

    This movie has piqued my interest at the video store, and now I am definitely adding it to my to-watch list!

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  35. gdaybeautiful3 May 2009 at 10:42

    I watched this movie on the way to Paris in Feb. Loved it too!

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  36. My Castle in Spain5 May 2009 at 15:19

    thanks for the recommendation Vicki! i'd surely want to see this movie..
    it sounds so typically French cute..

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  37. Di Overton6 May 2009 at 07:56

    This is right up my street. Now where do I get it with English subtitles as my French is non- existent.

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  38. Su17 July 2009 at 23:12

    Mmm, they are not parisiens, both caracters live in Lyon ! And the film was filmed in a lovely village called Rosans, in Hautes Alpes ;-)

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  39. Tyler21 July 2009 at 00:08

    Just watched the film and then found your blog ironically enough. Love both. Wish there was a way to find Claire's dresses online, they'd make the perfect present for my girlfriends birthday...

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  40. Anonymous2 January 2010 at 20:31

    I placed the movie in my Amazon cart and then decided to look around to see if it was available on the street of New York. What a wonderful way to bump into you,Madame. I hope I remember French Essence, because I'm a 33rd and 3rd type of guy who simply loves the French way of life. I think it is fantastic that you took such agreat risk uprooting your life because I need to do the same. Can't wait to get my grubby hands on this video,The Grocer's Son.

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Thank you for visiting French Essence... I love to read your comments and I hope you will be back often... xv