PASTORAL TALE OF PROVENCE, OF HUMAN DETERMINATION, OF GREED... AND OF FATE***NOTE ON BLU-RAY QUALITY - PLUS COMPARISON WITH 2008 FRENCH BLU-RAY RELEASE AND U.S. DVD RELEASE.***PLEASE BE INFORMED: This release is not dubbed into English or Spanish as Amazon once listed. English subtitles are of course included.Based on an older film and novel by Marcel Pagnol, these two films were shot together over a period of 7 months in beautiful Provence locals to catch the changing of the seasons. At the time, it was the most expensive French film project in history at $17 million dollars. It was part of the "French Heritage" movement pushed by French President François Mitterrand and his Minister of Culture which generally showcased period pieces and costume dramas celebrating the culture and landscape of France. The films are now considered the greatest achievement of that movement.THE PLOT (no spoilers): Shortly after WWI -- Ugolin Soubeyran returns from his war service and informs his uncle César Soubeyran that he wishes to grow carnations. Ugolin is a little simple minded, but he convinces César that there is money in the scheme. César knows just the farm to acquire. It is owned by an old farmer who is not aware of a hidden spring on the property. The farmer refuses to sell and is killed during an altercation. This would seem a misfortune, but César sees it as an opportunity, thinking the inheritors will want to unload the presumed dry farm at a cheap rate. Knowing the location of the spring, they seal it up so that it cannot be found even by accident. Unfortunately for the Soubeyrans, the farm passes to an educated man who is a hunchback, and he also does not wish to sell. Jean the hunchback arrives with his wife and young girl, highly idealistic and determined to make a success of the property and his grand scheme to raise rabbits and food. Jean is a bit of a city boy, but has studied his plans to a fantastic degree in theory. He has also inherited his property through his mother Florette, who was originally from this close knit and biased Provencal community. The Soubeyrans go about thwarting Jean's plans in secret, while Ugolin pretends to be friends. They also obscure the fact that Jean's mother comes from their town so that the townspeople themselves will treat them poorly as outsiders. It is a race against time, elements, and at times the negative actions of others. All the while, little Manon (Jean's daughter) watches the Sougeyrans with a quiet and distrustful gaze. ----Skipping to a quick synopsis of second part (again no spoilers)---- Manon is mostly grown and tending to a flock of goats in the same Provencal hills of this little community. She is spied by Ugolin as she is bathing in a spring and he becomes infatuated with her. César and Ugolin are the last of their prominent family and have no heirs. Ugolin determines to make Manon his wife. From the beginning it is clear that various secrets have to be unraveled. It is a modestly paced tale of tragedy and fate.OTHER THOUGHTS: This two part story (generally viewed together), was part of that 1980's "Heritage Cinema" movement that revived an ailing French film industry. The young Emmanuelle Beart is stunning as the grown Manon running wild in the Provencal hills with her tawny blonde mane of hair that is now almost iconic. Yves Montand, Gerard Depardieu, and Daniel Auteuil were already some of France's greatest actors Some parts can seem a little melodramatic, but the overall production is a cinematic classic.BLU-RAY COMPARISON WITH FRENCH RELEASE AND U.S. DVD: This is the same release from the 2008 French Blu-rays, so this is an old transfer and there is no special remaster beyond what was done in 2008. It is an improvement over the US DVD release and is listed in 1080P, 2:35:1, DTS HD Master audio for both French and U.S. Blu-ray releases. It is true that the color scheme is fairly warm compared to the U.S. DVDs. I noticed this from the opening scene, though I didn't find it that distracting. You can see it, but it is not that artificial. In fact, it could be the original desired color pallet (somewhat fall like) of the director. Not having the research on that, I cannot say that for a fact. Keep in mind this is an early set for the Blu-ray format (2008 release in France) and the transfer is not unusual at all for an older catalog film (1986 film debut). It is certainly not reference, but it's still beautiful and the countryside and carnation farms are still gorgeous. The print is a bit soft. No heavy grain, just not super crisp either. There is a fine cinematic grain one would expect. Given the films' status, you can bet on a special remaster sometime in the future - but you could wait ten years for that. If you already have the DVDs, it's up to you if it's worth the money to buy again now. If you already own the French Blu-rays and don't need English subtitles, then you are already set. I own the 2008 French release also, so this is a direct comparison.SUBTITLES AND NO DUB: There was some outcry when Amazon listed this with English dub (then Spanish) and there was worry the original French would not be included. This was absolutely incorrect information on the Amazon listing. THERE IS NO ENGLISH DUB. THERE IS NO SPANISH DUB. There is only French language and there is only English subtitles. There are no other subtitles than that.