Screens exclusively at the Blue Room Cinebar, Rosalie, from Thursday  (M15+)

Director: Eric Guirado

Runtime: 96mins

The Grocer’s Son is a delightful French drama that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The story begins when Antoine’s (Nicolas Cazale) father is hospitalised after having a heart attack. Antoine lives in Paris in a cluttered and dingy apartment. He is unemployed and going nowhere. Reluctantly he agrees to leave the city behind and return to the village in Provence where he grew up. He promised himself ten years ago that he would never return, but his mother’s plea to help her with the family’s grocery delivery service is enough for him to make the journey. Antoine begins his trip to the countryside, but he is not alone, he has convinced his neighbour, Claire (Clotilde Hesme) to come along too. She is a struggling student looking for some peace and quiet to study for her exams and so she jumps at the opportunity.  

While his mother minds the small grocery store and Claire hits the books, Antoine is in charge of driving the grocery delivery van. Antoine is impatient and sarcastic to the elderly residents of the surrounding countryside that he delivers to. He shows no interest and hates it at first, however his opinion changes when Claire decides to come along one day. Her enthusiasm and positive attitude excites him and shows him that he might actually enjoy the job. The daily drama of old men in caps buying a single tin of peas and widowers hunched over their baskets after purchasing two eggs, salami, and radishes is more than Antoine ever had back in Paris.

The trajectory of the story is pretty obvious, however it’s not really the destination that makes this a charmer; it’s the journey there. The audience is taken mostly by grocery van through some of the most spectacular landscapes. The film flows along at a languid summer pace and Antoine learns the healing power of country life and good food.  He is able to re-connect with his family and the girl he is interested in. 

The Grocer’s Son celebrates the simple pleasures in life and the gentle pace of the film unfolds the story beautifully. By the end you will feel relaxed and refreshed as well as craving some fine wine and crusty bread with cheese. Mmmm.

****                                                            

GEMMA MUMFORD

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*