The Grocer's Son (2007) - 3 Stars

In French with subtitles, aka Le Fils De L'epicier, this is a movie that will grow on you. The story of a 30 year old man, learning to reconnect with himself in the country side. At first, it's hard to relate with Antoine as he seems so unemotionally attached to life and Claire who he secretly has a crush on. He hides his feelings from everyone and treats everyone coldly. I am still unsure of how they met other than by being neighbors, but it would have been nice to delve deeper into Claire's past to see why she has become so recluse herself. I loved the old village people Antoine is forced to deal with.

Antoine Sforza (Nicolas Cazalé), is living in a small apartment in the big city after leaving his families business 10 years ago. But his boxes are still packed and he really hasn't been living at all. Working dead end jobs to survive, his waiter position in a Parisian restaurant is taking a toll on his spirit. Claire (Clotilde Hesme), lives across the hall and at 26, she's chosen to go back to school and get her degree. But she too is restless and bored. Antoine is called by his mother Mère d'Antoine (Jeanne Goupil), that his father Père d'Antoine (Daniel Duval), has suffered a heart attack. She needs his help running the family grocery store back in their small village of Provence. Antoine encourages Claire to come home with him and spend the summer in the country to forget all the worries of the big city.

Once they arrive, Claire meets Antoine's brother François (Stéphan Guérin-Tillié). François is deeply depressed over the recent failing of his marriage but doesn't let on to anyone but Claire. As he goes off to work each day, Antoine takes over driving the van to the top of mountain to service the elderly people of the hillside. The quirkiness of the old people start to drive Antoine mad, many who remember his antics as a child. They do not want to spend their money with him and Claire hitches a ride the next day to show him how to sell. Père d'Antoine comes home from the hospital only to criticize the job Antoine's been doing. After learning Claire will soon be leaving for Spain to attend her college, Antoine must make a decision to become like his father or return to the big city which holds nothing in his favor.

TS Productions, Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, Filmmovement
Director: Eric Guirado
Writers: Sara Prim, Eric Guirado, Florence Vignon
Producers: Milena Poylo, Gilles Sacuto

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