Les enfants du marais

This film delivers. It's a slice of life set in the beautiful French countryside.

It starts out very simple but keeps building, relationships evolving and unfolding into a glorious crescendo. The friendship between Garriss and Riton is a synergy that is not often captured in film. Garriss finds family, one that is missing from his life. Riton is guided, taught about life and social skills, the very things where he lacks knowledge.

While the relationships between the adults in this film are a wonderment, the relationships between the children are heartwarming. This film delivers on both ends of the life cycle spectrum.

A reviewer commented, "I sat through it waiting for something to happen" and was disappointed. I contend that if one watches this film waiting for a shootout, nudity/sex scene, a car chase, an explosion, or any of the other typical Hollywood cliché subplots, he or she will be disappointed. This film stands on it's own, having a morality just as high as the values it depict.

You don't sit through this film "waiting for something to happen". Something happens to you! You're immersed in a world of nostalgia, one that will warm your soul and broaden your notions of what life is really about, and how life really should be.

This movie, in Norway titled "Summer in the Loire valley", is most likely the best one Eric Cantona ever starred in and he does a good job as the disgraced boxer Jo Sardi looking for revenge in the Loire valley. What really makes this film a treat is the beautiful landscapes, excellent photography and also the splendid performances by Cantona and others. It also has a good story which is interesting to follow. This is a heartwarming movie to enjoy on any night.

It is almost worth a 10, but I give it a 9 because the story is not engaging enough. This was obviously a film that was made for a wide audience and therefore has a lighter tone. Still, it is nonetheless a very good film which gives us Cantona at his best. And that is a reason enough to watch it.

This is a movie I would recomend for a boring sunday afternoon when you're feeling a bit blue and you're trying to evade thoughts of the outside world.

The scenery is beautiful and the word that comes to mind when I think of the message of the movie is - compassion. It's a low key story about fríendship and it really brightened my boring sunday afternoon.

A masterpiece from Jean Becker, 'Les Enfants du Marais' is a stunning celebration of the spirit of the common man. The film features an admirable performance by Michel Serrault as 'Pépé', set in the picturesque French countryside. Dreujou's breath-taking photography makes the film a must for any French-loving film-goer.

A real feel good movie.

Les Enfants Du Marais is a wonderful tale not only on account of its evocative imagery, atmospheric scenery and the fact that it is populated by genuine characters you know, once knew, or would like to know - it is a welcome and straight-forward reminder of what is important in life. Friendship and love and the simple but ever compelling pleasure found in physical work and play with a purpose; these are the scenarios in which true happiness is enjoyed to its fullest extent. It's not about tree-hugging, sandal-wearing save-the-world ideas but about true freedom -and what we choose to do with it. We get to witness the futility and sad contrivance of pomp and pride but also the power of change and a spot of kindness. Always without judgement yet never without feeling. This movie is not downright sentimental or nostalgic; it just happens to be good in what might be called an old-fashioned way, and it serves up some great laughs along the way. Above all, this is a movie for movie lovers with their hearts and minds in the right place.