Le fils de l'épicier (The Grocer's Son) (2007)

91% of critics liked it
(57 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(1,975 ratings)

Quand Tu Descendras du Ciel director Eric Guirado follows up his feature filmmaking debut with this drama about a grocer's son who returns to the village where he was born in order to take over his father's business. Ten years ago, Antione (Nicolas Cazalé) left his family behind and moved to the big… More Quand Tu Descendras du Ciel director Eric Guirado follows up his feature filmmaking debut with this drama about a grocer's son who returns to the village where he was born in order to take over his father's business. Ten years ago, Antione (Nicolas Cazalé) left his family behind and moved to the big city. Now, after discovering that his father (Daniel Duval) has suffered a heart attack and that the family grocery store will soon be forced to shut down, Antoine heads back to the French mountain town at the behest of his brother François (Stéphan Guérin-Tillié). It seems that few folks save for his mother (Jeanne Goupil) are happy to see Antoine return, though the meandering 30-year-old has brought city friend Claire (Clotilde Hesme) along to keep him company during his stay in the country. Though it remains to be seen whether Antoine and Claire will ever become anything more than friends, the free-spirited sprite is more than happy to help out when it comes to making the rounds with the mobile store that services the local villages. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Eric Guirado
Written By: Florence Vignon, Eric Guirado
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Jun 6, 2008 Wide
On DVD: Jan 6, 2009
Studio: Les Films du Losange

Critic Reviews

Monica Eng, Chicago Tribune
For all of its sleepy charms and pretty shots of the countryside, the film doesn't serve up a lot of fresh insights, unless you count finding out what senior citizens buy from grocery vans in these little hamlets.
Mike Mayo, Washington Post
A film that sticks close to its characters and plays fair with them throughout.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
The Grocer's Son offers a nicely observed portrait of a man in search of himself, finding his purpose, and finding that, in fact, it is possible to go home again.
Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle
The quiet, patient soulfulness of the film, which Guirado co-wrote with Florence Vignon, lingers.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
A movie begging this hard to be loved is unattractive.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Unforced and beautifully acted.
Cosmo Landesman, Times [UK]
Written and directed by a newcomer, Eric Guirado, this is a delightful coming-of-age film that quietly explores the hidden tensions in family life.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
The landscape with Mont Sainte-Victoire regularly in view is seductively beautiful.
Tom Dawson, Film4
A warm-hearted tribute to a disappearing way of life, the unhurried Grocer's Son is a well acted film where the journey is more important than the final destination.
Tom Dawson, Total Film
Writer/director Eric Guirado lets events unfold at their own relaxed pace, and has a feel for simmering family resentments, while the wonderful Clotilde Hesme is effortlessly charming in the role of the free-spirited best friend.
David Parkinson, Empire Magazine
A little predictable in places, but explores family relationships with pathos and perception.
David Jenkins, Time Out
It's a small, well-rounded movie that you'd be hard pressed to find fault with, achieving its modest goals with subtle aplomb while whipping up humour and empathy from Antoine's rapport with his doddery clientele.
Wendy Ide, Times [UK]
This is a slow-burning charmer of a film that rewards those prepared to settle into its easygoing pace.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
This is a sweet and engaging little film, and though it becomes more contrived and sugary as the story progresses, there is real charm.
Karl French, Financial Times
In its slow-moving, at times uncomfortable way, this is a heartwarming film.
Allan Hunter, Daily Express
Unfolding amid the dappled sunshine and dusty roads of Provence, this is a film that lifts your spirits.
, This is London
The Grocer's Son is best described as a feelgood film that doesn't underrate its audiences too much.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Emotionally engaging, impressively directed and superbly written French drama with strong performances from Nicolas Cazale and Clotilde Hesme.
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
How could a French audience not enjoy such a nostalgic look at a simpler and bucolic way of life?
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Conveys the stultifying mechanics of human labor through sheer repetition, while aspiring to subtle moments of insight rarely captured in movies, as to how work comes to define who we are and how our lives play out on the planet.

Read all 21 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

First L

A little french film from the independent series of films, The Butcher's Son is predictable, never goes beyond exactly what you'd expect, and yet the end result is a pleasant experience. The lead character goes from living life in the city alone, to working at his… More
A little french film from the independent series of films, The Butcher's Son is predictable, never goes beyond exactly what you'd expect, and yet the end result is a pleasant experience. The lead character goes from living life in the city alone, to working at his parent's grocery in the countryside, delivering goods to elderly people in the mobile grocery van (after his father has a some sort of attack and has to go to the hospital). In his city apartment, the girl across the hall, whom he has eyes for, comes with him to the country in order to study for her big entrance exams to college, and of course it's only a matter of time before they fall in love. The lead character is an emotionally detached, alienated youth who only looks out for himself, and he and his family have a great many clashes over this. It's only after driving the grocery van for a period of time that he begins to get some humility and empathy for his fellow man. As I said before, the film is predictable, doesn't take any risks, and had it been made in Hollywood, it most likely would've starred Sandra Bullock. And yet, I don't hold any of this against it. It may not hit the high note, but it's not necessarily trying to. The beautiful scenery and quirky cast help make this film a pleasant diversion.
Leigh R

Amazing and beautiful cinematography. It was a very honest movie...
Bruce B

This film came from the Film Movement Club, a club I had never heard of but after seeing this film I will check out many more of there films. Antoine (Nucolas Cazale) left home and didn't turn back at a young age. That is until his father has a heart attack. He then returns to… More
This film came from the Film Movement Club, a club I had never heard of but after seeing this film I will check out many more of there films. Antoine (Nucolas Cazale) left home and didn't turn back at a young age. That is until his father has a heart attack. He then returns to help his Mom run a small European Grocery Store (Quite Different from US Stores). During this time he brings a new girl who helps him run a small van that goes to small towns. At first he hates it but as time goes on he falls in love with the strange people. All in all worth every bit of 4 stars.
Mark A

An excellent, sometimes infuriating, quiet study of a family dynamic dominated by three very headstrong men. Antoine (Nicholas Cazale) is the youngest son, who has moved to the city to escape what he views as the stultifying boredom of living in the French countryside. When his father… More
An excellent, sometimes infuriating, quiet study of a family dynamic dominated by three very headstrong men. Antoine (Nicholas Cazale) is the youngest son, who has moved to the city to escape what he views as the stultifying boredom of living in the French countryside. When his father (Daniel Duval) is stricken ill, Antoine is persuaded to come home to keep the family business afloat. Older brother, Francois (Stephan Guerin-Tillie) runs a hair salon and is dealing with what he sees as a temporary separation from his wife, even though she has been gone for two years and he somehow has manged to keep this from his family. If left to themselves, one gets the feeling these three would claw each other to death, so high are the passions. The matriarch of this clan (Jeanne Goupil) is the glue that keeps the pieces from flying apart like two magnets whose north poles are brought together. Beautiful scenery of a mountainous region of France serves as the backdrop for this tale of Antoine coming to terms with his heritage and learning to shoulder adult responsibilities. Adding interest to the mix is a young woman, Sophie (Ludmila Ruoso), who accompanies him to the countryside even though they are not lovers. There is delight here in abundance, from the interaction between the two young people, and between Antoine and the many elderly people served by a van that traverses the countryside, sort of a mobile grocery store. A simple treatment of a young man's journey to maturity that is all the more beautiful for its simplicity.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "The Grocer's Son," Antoine(Nicolas Cazale) is trying to make a living in Paris when he learns that his father(Daniel Duval), who runs a general store in the countryside, has had a heart attack, leaving him incapable of running his store for the… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "The Grocer's Son," Antoine(Nicolas Cazale) is trying to make a living in Paris when he learns that his father(Daniel Duval), who runs a general store in the countryside, has had a heart attack, leaving him incapable of running his store for the near future.(Antoine has been estranged from his father for ten years ever since moving to the big city.) His older brother, Francois(Stephan Guerin-Tillie), cannot help since he has his own business to run. Antoine is very hesitant until he quits his job as a waiter. Once that is out of the way, he does move back home, taking his cute neighbor Claire(Clotilde Hesme) with him, giving her the chance to study for her exams in peace and quiet.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Grocer's Son" is a nicely photographed and pleasant diversion about the need to enjoy one's job and to always be pleasant when working around other people. In short, the more you put into a job, the more you are likely to get out of it. [/font]
Juli R

There aren't any surprises in the plot of "The Grocer's Son".But that's ok.This movie is about finding your way and discovering that you can go home again. It will leave you feeling hopeful about people's potential to be selfless and find joy in life. You… More
There aren't any surprises in the plot of "The Grocer's Son".But that's ok.This movie is about finding your way and discovering that you can go home again. It will leave you feeling hopeful about people's potential to be selfless and find joy in life. You are never too old to change your life. The setting is beautiful Provence.
Richard F

A solid foreign film about selflessness. Great acting and a catchy soundtrack.
Sunil J

I liked parts of it but I've seen this story in at least half a dozen French films before and there were no surprises here.