A magical childhood summer seen through rose-coloured spectacles. The acting is light and fits the mood. The way French directors are able to make gloriously emotional films is a source of constant amazement to me. This film made in Britain just wouldn't work.
I am not sure why Jean de Florette is so good and this, almost in the same mould, is not. The cinematography is typically French with beautifully lit outdoor scenes. The town and country scenes are wonderfully nostalgic. The plot however is aimless and did not resonate with me. This young lad had a great holiday, well fair enough, he enjoyed learning some countryside crafts (potentially interesting but not realised) and changed his attitude to his father, a bit incongruous with the rest of the rather drab plot.