THE GROCER’S SON

France, 2008, 96 minutes, Colour.
Nicolas Cazale.
Directed by Eric Guirado.

Low-key might be the best word to introduce this very French drama about a young man, alienated from his family, who is drawn back into the family life and grocery business out in the provinces, when his father is hospitalised.

We watch the characters sometimes in a detached way, sometimes emotionally. Antoine (Nicolas Cazale) is not strong on people skills, especially when he goes on the daily rounds through the attractive hilly countryside, a service to those who are not mobile. And we go on the rounds with him many, many (too many?) times. However, when Claire, a friend from Paris who is studying for entry into a Spanish college, accompanies him on his rounds, she charms all the customers with her genial interest and help.

You know that Antoine will mellow, at least a little, but it takes him a long time to break through his rather bitter attitude towards life. He also clashes with his older brother who is concealing his broken marriage from his parents who see him as the better son and who becomes suicidal.

This is a slice of country life. The director has made films which show an interest in society and customs in regional France which makes this film something of a blend of sociological documentary with dramatic fiction.

1.The title, the focus on Antoine, his parents, their shop, the traditions of the grocer’s shop in the village?

2.The city sequences, the hospital, the district, the apartment, the shops?

3.The contrast with the country village, the home, the countryside, the mountains? Musical score?

4.The situation of the father being sick, hospital, the memories of the past, his mother and her anxiety, Francois and the favoured son, Antoine not going in to see his father, remaining outside the door?

5.Antoine and his character, age, the memories of the ten years and the clash with his father, leaving home, his being a cook, cantankerous, losing his job? His friend with the shop, his not being able to greet customers, the friend’s comments about his inability with people? Friendship with Claire, her studies, helping her?

6.The mother offering the job, the payment, his deciding to go home? Taking Claire, Claire able to study, do her revision? The summer and the prospect of going to Spain to study?

7.The shop itself, Antoine’s mother working in the shop? The truck, going to his friend to get it fixed, doing the rounds, going into the countryside, the range of customers, Antoine’s harsh manner towards them, wanting the money, the clash with Lucienne, bad manners, people feeling insulted, Lucienne and the accident of her hitting her head?

8.The film showing the grocery rounds so often? Different detail? Antoine going with Claire, the contrast, her friendliness, her conniving with the customers to insult Antoine, the exhilaration of painting the truck?

9.The mother, her change of attitude? The father’s sudden return, his anger with his wife, anger with Antoine? The bad memories?

10.Antoine and Claire, the bond, the sexual encounter, Claire and her work, the exam and posting it, Antoine losing it, throwing it away, Claire discovering this, her decision to leave?

11.Francois and Antoine, the clash, the meals, Francois’ wife, the scenes with her talking, the divorce, his not telling his parents, the lies? Going fishing with Claire? The bond with Claire? Taking her to the railway station? His wife’s rejection of him, his decision to kill himself, Antoine and the coincidence of seeing him, rescuing him from the water? In hospital?

12.The father, his decision to retire, his entrusting the work to Antoine?

13.Claire, going to Paris, getting the results in Spain? Her return, the bond with Antoine, a future? Antoine’s future?

14.The director, his documentary background, sociological interest, combined with fiction?