The Washington Post
Decidedly, almost defiantly, old-fashioned, but not necessarily in a bad way.
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The Well-Digger's Daughter
In this French romantic drama the eldest daughter of a well-digger returns home from Paris when the first shots of World War I are fired. When she falls pregnant to a fighter pilot from a wealthy family her father is torn between his sense of honour and love for his daughter as a rift between the two families develops.
On the cusp of the First World War in France, 18-year-old Patricia (Astrid Berges-Frisbey) meets handsome young Jacques (Nicolas Duvauchelle) - a fighter pilot. But when Jacques is suddenly called to the front after just two romantic rendezvous, Patricia finds herself pregnant and in the middle of a rift between her father (Auteuil) and Jacques’ upper-class parents (Jean-Pierre Darroussin and Sabine Azéma). The Mazels refuse to acknowledge their grandchild, accusing Patricia of blackmail. But when Jacques is reported missing, will the bond of family triumph over class division?
The first film directed by actor Daniel Auteuil, a remake of Marcel Pagnol's 1940 original.
2012Rating: PG105 minsFranceFrench with English subtitles
AdaptationDramaRe-makeRomanceWorld Cinema
- Director:
- Daniel Auteuil (feature debut)
- Writer:
- Daniel Auteuil
- Cast:
- Daniel AuteuilKad MeradSabine AzémaJean-Pierre DarroussinNicolas DuvauchelleAstrid Bergès-Frisbey
The Well-Digger's Daughter / Reviews
Seattle Times
There's nothing rushed or crowded about this film, just a quiet story carefully told.
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Variety
The humanist spirit of Gallic novelist-director Marcel Pagnol is alive and well in the old-fashionedly sincere The Well-Digger's Daughter...
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The Guardian
Daniel Auteuil stars and makes a very competent directing debut with this handsome, old-fashioned film.
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Stuff
The ending might be a little sugary for some but the film's bedrock-solid acting and airtight script make it a story to fall into.
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Hollywood Reporter
A polished, finely acted tale of love and class in the south of France.
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Empire Magazine
Fans of Manon Des Sources will revel in Auteuil's performance. He proves he's a dab hand behind the camera, too, with a touching romantic drama.
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