An unbalanced mixture of a film, with elements of resistance to the modern world encroaching on village life, sexual liberation of a woman who has sampled life away from the restrictive local community, culture clash between locals and 'townies', and some aspects of exploitation of poor communities to serve the wealthy.
The efforts of locals to prevent a bridge being built over 'their' river are often comical - not dissimilar to Clochemerle - as they pull up marker pegs and harass the builders, but the violence is real. Two deaths, two significant injuries, and the use of Gendarmes to protect the ongoing work. No strong case is ever made against the bridge, despite passions running high, and the ending suggests a miraculous change of heart among the villagers. More curiously, the menfolk seem to need to travel for work; the bridge would seem a boon, not the curse they treat it as.
The editing is sometimes a little suspect and the plot is episodic, with jumps between scenes. Some characters seem destined to be vital to the story but disappear, while others change allegiance suddenly, or their motivations are unclear. Mira herself holds a power that defies explanation, and is not as sweet as she is played, while the engineer Rondeau's actions left me baffled. His innocence in the face of knowing locals and building crews alike is unconvincing. The relationship between residents on either side of the river is never really explored.
All these shortcomings aside, the film is engaging and keeps the viewer entertained.
