Jacquou le croquant

I have just read the other reviews and must say I loved this film enormously because it is so beautiful and authentic to the period, and not in the mindset of those hideous films the American's churn out like popcorn, with Hansel and Gretel with machine guns or whatever. I didn't find the pace slow at all, watching the lead character grow up was sad and gut-wrenching, a beautiful performance by the child actor. This film is filled with subtle tender moments, and also moments of horror early on, when the boy loses his beloved pet dog. The arrogance and non feeling for others less fortunate by the aristocrats set the tone for the film. The sets and country scenes are superb, and once Gaspard Ulliel appears as the boy grown up, you really are aware of a great performance, by one of France's hottest young actors. (soon to be seen as Yves Saint Laurent in the biography picture of that name). I actually wanted more, and wondered what happened to the characters after the film had finished. Its hard to explain how I feel after seeing a good French film. But if you have visited Paris and truly felt its magic, then you are halfway there. This film sweeps you away to another time and place, makes you feel empathy for the characters, makes you shed a few tears, and long for the hero to win. In the end, when Gaspard remembers his childhood dog running through the grass... in his mind, that really got to me.... as all the best classics do. Robert. Australia.

First, you enjoy cinematography. Second, the performances of Dora Doll, Tcheky Karyo, Olivier Gourmet and Gaspard Ulliel. It is just one of many historical French films about young heroes , their revenge story, their love adventure. For the fans of genre, a delight. For the other, a comfortable, beautiful film and romantism in large doses. So, correct and fair are the good definitions for this adventures film , seductive scene by scene .

Excellent story, narrated in a strong raw sentimental way. With great performing from everyone in the cast as well as every cinematographic aspect. Photography, more than beautiful. Even though the picture is quite long, it didn't turned me off one second. It made me feel sad and happy, it made me cry, it made me wish hope for the character "Jacquou". It gave me weird/good deep feelings,(whatever that means). It is also impossible not to fall in love with the petite Jaquou and Lina and their performances.

Laurent Boutonnat did and excellent film that entertains and enchants. As usual, you couldn't expect less from French Cinema.

Don't miss it!

Eugene Le Roy's book has become a classic .It was transferred to the screen as (very good)TV miniseries by Stellio Lorenzi in the late sixties.

Jaquou's story was told in the first person by a very old man (Jaquou) who remembered all his trials.It was told with a great simplicity .One remembers the first chapter (Christmas night) when the child and his mother attend the service in an icy church ,then watch the food intended for the nobles ."There's nothing good in here" the mom says ,when they come back home.This scene is completely botched in the film.

Boutonnat butchered "Jaquou Le Croquant".I dare anyone who has read the book to like it.Taking liberties with Eugene Leroy ,the movie turns the oubliettes scene (one page or two) into a horror sequence where Jaquou escapes without any help (Le Roy never wrote such nonsense).The long conversations between the priest and the freethinker knight are reduced to the minimum,which is a shame for Olivier Gourmet ,Tcheky Karyo and veteran Dora Doll (she was already there in the French forties)as Fantille give the best performances of the movie.

In the last thirty minutes,Boutonnat turns Jaquou into a French Rambo ,with the crowds ridiculously chanting his name (JA-QUOU!JA-QUOU!JA-QUOU !) as if they were on a stadium ,cheering their favorite football player.Whereas Le Roy's style came straight from the heart (his hatred for the royalty and the Ancien Regime was real but he did not impose a history lesson upon his readers),Boutonnat uses a showy style,using too many slow motion pictures ,squandering the high budget in video game style battles .

Like in America ,this tendency to remake fine miniseries ("Belphegor","Jaquou" )as silver screen movies has become a curse in France.

I agree with those who praise this movie for having fabulous cinematography. There are many picturesque scenes and the natural settings are beautifully captured. And if you're a Gaspard Ulliel fan, you'll probably die for this movie because the whole camera angles seem to be set to compliment his looks.

But aside from these aspects, the movie is quite awkward. Not to mention strange use of slow-mo, the plot jumps around and lines are ill-written. Comic reliefs pop up in inappropriate moments and the director seems to be trying hard to include pretty much every possible characters in the script. It would've been better if they had been given less to speak. Now they look like they're trying to convince the audience how they're feeling. There is no art of silence in Jacquou le Croquant. This may be due to lack of acting talent observed throughout the movie (perhaps exception of Tchéky Karyo). Gaspard Ulliel exhibits no emotions, not so much as intense anger or frustration. You'll know how serious I am when I say his performance in Hannibal Rising seems much better by comparison. There is no charisma when he leads the townspeople to rioting; he looks like he's being led by someone else.

What the movie promises on its poster or DVD cover is a powerful historical piece with intriguing characters and extravagant battle scenes. You'll find none of those in Jacquou le Croquant. When you think about it, there's really nothing new in the storyline: an orphan of a lower class who is treated unjustly by a noble and is driven to vengeance. And in such a genre as this one does not need much skill to act. The roles are simple and clearly laid out; these aren't some complex characters which deserve a long time of research. And with accomplished cinematography, Jacquou le Croquant should've been much better.

I would recommend this movie if you like all things French (like I do) or Gaspard Ulliel, or if you'd just give it a go for the sake of beautiful scenes. However if you put heavy emphasis on plot structure or are just tempted by the poster, this movie isn't worth your money.