Les enfants du marais

A little French gem that wraps you up in the lives of a group of friends in the 1920´s in France. Wonderfully acted and superbly directed, the story meanders gently through a number of seasons tracing their friendship and "amours", interlacing the finely drawn characters and sub-plots with consummate skill. At no time does the story flag, or become convoluted and the ending is simple and uncontrived. The photography is superb and reminiscent of "Manon des Sources"; Eric Cantona is surprisingly good as a champion boxer and even enlarges on his 1996 Selhurst Park performance. You will emerge from this extraordinary film edified and enriched and thanking the heavens that Hollywood isn´t the only place that makes films.

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.

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.

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.

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.