19/04/2010

Shooting starts in Provence today on La Fille du Puisatier (“The Well-Digger’s Daughter”), the directorial debut of Daniel Auteuil, who immerses himself in the world of novelist Marcel Pagnol, which brought him great success as an actor (Jean de Florette, Manon of the Spring).

The new-found director stars alongside young actress Astrid Bergès-Frisbey (who was discovered in The Sea Wall [+see also:
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Adapted by Auteuil from the eponymous work by Pagnol (who made a film version in 1940, starring Fernandel and Raimu), La Fille du Puisatier is set in 1939. Patricia (Bergès-Frisbey), the daughter of well-digger Pascal Amoretti (Auteuil) falls in love with pilot Jacques Mazel (Duvauchelle). But he has to leave for the war without knowing that the young girl (with whom the well-digger’s assistant Félipe Rambert - Merad - is also infatuated) is pregnant.

The pilot’s ironmonger parents (Darroussin and Azéma) refuse to acknowledge the child. The well-digger thus disowns his daughter and drives her away. Worse still, she finds out the pilot is dead. Will the armistice change the situation?

Produced by Les Films Alain Sarde, La Fille du Puisatier has co-production backing from Léa Films and Pathé. The latter will manage French distribution and international sales.

The 42-day shoot will take place until June 12 in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The score will be composed by Alexandre Desplat.

(Translated from French)