01/10/2007

Among the many French films in official competition at the 22nd Namur International Film Festival (September 28-October 5) – such as French/Senagalese director Alain Gomis’ appealing second feature Andalucia [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (see article) and Sandrine Bonnaire’s documentary Elle s'appelle Sabine [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], a 2007 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight entry (see article) – filmgoers were also invited to discover Eric Guirado’s second feature Le Fils de l'épicier [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (“The Grocer’s Son”), a modest, upbeat and invigorating film.

Talented actor Nicolas Cazalé (Le grand voyage) plays the lead, who is grappling with assuming his responsibilities as a son and the profession that goes with it. When his father is hospitalised, he comes to lend a hand in his father’s grocery shop, not so much to help out his mother but rather to attract a beautiful girl, which he takes from their isolated village to a sunny place over the hills.

Driving his father’s van, he becomes the travelling grocer, going from village to village and house to house in the most isolated spots to sell meat and vegetables. His numerous trips on which he forms relationships with his clients without even realising it soften up the taciturn and sulky young man.

In this coming-of-age tale, Guirado paints a rich gallery of portraits, looks at simple people, describes villages in the heart of the countryside, and takes a snapshot of traditional professions such as grocers that are gradually disappearing. Set under the summer sun and the calm of Provence, Le Fils de l'épicier is a realistic and light comedy that steadily reaches its denouement through tasteful dialogue and bucolic scenes. Its simplicity, tempo and warmth are all tangible.

Produced by TS production, with Rhône Alpes Cinéma and the participation of Canal +, in addition to backing from the Rhône Alpes and the Provence alpes Côte d'Azur regions and the CNC, Le Fils de l'épicier is being sold (and distributed in France) by Films du Losange.

BFD will open the title on Belgian screens on November 28.

(Translated from French)