When Jean, as an outsider and a city-dweller at that, inherits a smallholding, the locals will not help him, and his struggle, against both nature and humans and their tragic consequences, is riveting and compulsive. Depardieu's performance, all towering strength and heartbreaking pathos, supplies the heart and soul of this beautiful saga of greed and resentment. And you'll want to watch the sequel, "Manon De Sources", immediately.