CONVERSATIONS WITH MY GARDENER. Dir Jean Becker. 2007

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Subtle, simple story written and directed by Becker about male friendship in rural France. A middle-aged, middle-class Parisian artist (Daniel Auteuil) returns to his boyhood home in the country – he is separated from his wife, his girlfriend has been cheating on him and his relationship with his daughter is strained. Both his parents now dead, he escapes from the difficulty of relationships with women and settles into his old family home to paint.

He decides to breathe life into the place again and advertises for a gardener to restore the extensive gardens. (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) arrives on a rickety looking velo, and the two men recognize each other from early days at school. They seem only to have their shared beginning in common, their experiences and outlook on life are so different, but the two men become friends, gradually understanding each other’s perspective and developing a frank intimacy.

Although ultimately the artist’s journey is one of redemption and transformation, there is delightful humour, poignancy, and quiet philosophy without sentimentality. Becker has drawn performances of very natural ease from Auteuil and Darroussin, the pace is as leisurely as summer in the country, and makes a charming, touching film.

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