The Grocer's Son (French : Le Fils de l'épicier) is a 2007 French drama film about a family that runs a grocery business in Provence, France; the business includes a single truck that travels the countryside making deliveries to customers. The director, Éric Guirado, had previously made television documentaries about traveling grocers in rural France. The film, released in France as Le Fils de l'épicier, was first presented as part of the 2007 Namur Francophone Film Festival. It was sufficiently successful that in 2008 subtitled versions were released internationally.
Synopsis It concerns Antoine (played by Nicolas Cazalé), who must leave Lyon to help his mother (Jeanne Goupil) who runs the family grocery store in a village in Southern France. His father (Daniel Duval), stricken with a heart attack, can no longer drive the grocery truck that supplies the isolated hamlets around the village. Antoine discovers the charm of these people, "bons vivants" (good living) ways and gradually comes to love his eccentric customers and finds the country of his childhood. He also discovers the joy of living and perhaps the joy of love with Claire (played by Clotilde Hesme).
The film uses the beautiful landscape of Mont Sainte-Victoire as a regular backdrop.
Cast Nicolas Cazalé as Antoine Sforza (the Grocer's son). Clotilde Hesme as Claire. Daniel Duval as Antoine's father, the proprietor of Alimentation Générale (lit. Grocery). Jeanne Goupil as Antoine's mother and the proprietress. Stéphan Guérin-Tillié as François Sforza (Antoine's brother). Liliane Rovère as Lucienne (a customer). as Le Père Clèment. as Hassan. Benoit Giros as Fernand. Ludmila Ruoso as Sophie.
Other credits Producers - Miléna Poyle and Gilles Sacuto Music - Christophe Boutin Production record—TS Production, Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, StudioCanal Location - Rosans, commune in Provence
Reception The film received good reviews from several noted critics writing in English. Roger Ebert wrote, "The summer unfolds slowly. Claire goes back to Paris. The father arrives from Paris. The countryside is calm and seductive. The mother soldiers on, keeping the store open late "to help people." And Antoine comes of age. That's all the film is, apart from having humor, warmth, kindness, insight and scenery. That's enough." Ebert's statement that the city of the film is Paris is likely incorrect; the city where Antoine and Claire are living at the film's start is Lyon.
Nicolas Cazale was nominated for the César Award for Most Promising Actor (the French Academy Award) for his performance as the Grocer's son.
Home media The Grocer's Son was released as a region 1 DVD in 2009 with English subtitles. A region 2 DVD was also released in 2009.
References
External links
The Grocer's Son at Rotten Tomatoes