Manon of the Spring 4K 1986

This is magic, the lingering magic of true cinema. All the threads in this film are so skillfully woven that one can only revel in them: the sense of distress spreading in the stormy sky, the pinching feeling of compassion, the young beauty of Emmanuelle Béart caressing the eye, the rich green of the foliage, the scarlet luxury of carnations.

But it was Yves Montand who finally struck me down. His character - César Sobeiran - is amazing. A resolute man who knows no doubts, who, having seen a lot in his life, having rich experience and worldly wisdom, does not shy away from meanness, but keeps the scallop of his beloved for several decades. And the acting is brilliant. What scene with Montand do not take - for each he has a unique facial expression, live, real eyes: here he is fatherly, warmly, but a little ironically looks at his nephew, who is asked what income brings the dead, here he smiles with slyness and satisfaction, when Yugolen informs him that he has looked for a wife, here he is amazed and condemned listening to a sermon in church. And in the final explanation with the blind old lady, I was moved to my very bones.

Thanks to Montand this movie would have already gained admirers, but, to our viewers' happiness, in ‘Manon from the source’ there are two more outstanding acting works: Daniel Otoya and Emmanuelle Béart.

Otoi, as in the first part of the dilogy, soulfully performs the role of not very intelligent, simple-minded Yugolene Sobeiran. How his love is shown - it's just a feast of acting emotions! How truly Yugolen is sincere in his sensual impulses, how touching and desperate in the love explanation on the rocks. His cries of "Je t`aime! - is the pain of realizing reality, it is the last stronghold of hope.

And Emmanuelle. I'm only familiar with her from her roles as an adult. And here Emmanuelle looks very young and fragile. And most importantly, her Manon is beautiful! Not only externally, but also inwardly filled. And Behar's performance awakens in the viewer the wonder of Manon's transparent purity. I admired this girl with sky-blue eyes the whole movie and every appearance was like a fresh breeze.

However, in addition to the decent acting, the plot in this movie is not bogged down. Almost in the middle of the movie there will be a violent climax, and at the end - a ‘control shot’, after which I did not recover until the final credits.

Bottom line. For the impeccable acting (and specifically Montana and Behar), intriguing plot, very beautiful scenery.