JACQUOU LEADER CROQUANT

France, 2007, 140 minutes, Colour.
Gaspard Ulliel, Leo Legrand, Marie- Josee Croze, Albert Dupontel, Tcheky Kayro, Olivier Gourmet, Jocelyn Quivrin, Mali Gazidi, Judith Davis, Bojana Panik, Dora Doll.
Directed by Laurent Boutonnat.

Jacquou le Croquant is a story from the post-Napoleonic era. The system in France had collapsed, the aristocrats who had taken over are being besieged by the working class. The film recreates the atmosphere of the period in the French countryside.

The focus is at first on a young boy who loses his family. He is taken in by the local chevalier and absorbs the training that the knight gives him. He then goes into battle against the aristocrat who destroyed his father. In the meantime, as in romances of this kind, he falls in love and has the support of a vigorous young woman.

1.An interesting view of French history? For French audiences? World audiences?

2.The re-creation of the early 19th century in France, the village, locations, the countryside, homes, the town square, the castle? Costumes and décor? The score – and the work of the director as a composer? The final song – and the singer promoted by the director?

3.The information about the Battle of Waterloo, the fate of Napoleon, the fate of the aristocracy, of the revolutionaries? The chevalier and his voice-over, his comments on the times? On Jacquu? The return of the aristocracy, the disillusionment of the working-class? The return to the pre-revolution status quo?

4.The detail of village life, the portrait of Jacquu’s father, the worker, his strong-minded wife, the struggles with the aristocracy, the count? His arrest, Jacquu watching his father being taken, in prison, the information about the court, the father’s death? The warnings to Jacquu? His mother, her grief, her taking her son to view the castle, to swear revenge?

5.The young Jacquu, the boy, his age, as part of this world, as saving La Galiote? In the pigs, her gratitude? His relationship with his mother, the meeting with Lina, the adults?

6.La Galiote, as a wilful little girl, daughter of the count, her teasing the pigs, her being caught, rescued by Jacquu? The repercussions for their adult life?

7.Jacquu hungry, poor, Squint, his friend, the collapse, being taken in by the priest, frozen, thawing out, the help of the chevalier? Lina, helping to revive him, eating? The genial priest (and the echoes of Les Miserables)? His life and his growing up?

8.The adult Jacquu, the clash with the count, the festival, the marketplace, the symbolism of the dance, Jacquu and his defiance, dancing with Lina, her hesitation? The count, La Galiote and her reaction? The confrontation? The count leaving?

9.The count, the life of the aristocracy, arrogance, the count and Jacquu’s father, merciless with the appeal from his mother, hastening the death? His luxurious life, the feasts, the decadence?

10.Jacquu and the priest, the priest as genial, kind, the image of the church, the contrast with the priest supporting the aristocracy? The pathos of his death? The chevalier, his medical care?

11.Jacquu and Lina, their love for each other, shared life, the future?

12.Squint, the other young people in the village, the oppression? The festival, the dance?

13.The glimpses of Jacquu, his ordinary life, the work in the fields?

14.His being taken, in the prison, the count and his attitude, La Galiote and hers? His being imprisoned down the well? The chevalier and the search? The entry into the building? The well being covered, their not hearing Jacquu? His attempts to climb the walls?

15.His escape, his skill, the confrontation? The guests of the count, the new atmosphere of revolution? The aristocracy and the meal, the attack, the fire, the burning of the castle, the count and his fighting Jacquu, Jacquu wanting him to live and to live poor?

16.La Galiote, her reaction, her decision to save Jacquu? Her going to London to be a governess, his going to the river to farewell her? The tension and the gratitude? Letting her go? Lina?

17.The future, the epic historical narrative? The insights into the period?