La fine fleur

First off, I gave this an extra star in honor of the Victory rose that lived in our backyard for 44 years before I moved - and now lives in a a friend's yard and produces magnificent scented blooms for her every year. My mother wanted me to dig her up and toss her away 25 years ago because she thought the bush was dead. I said, "Lets give her until next spring and see what happens." Oh, my. She was magnificent that next spring.

Okay - back to the movie! It grows on you. I mean it. Not trying to be funny, but it really does. The people grow and learn and so do we. And it is worth it all to get to the last 10 minutes and that includes the credits where you are treated to magnificent photos of beautiful roses.

Yes. I cried.

One reviewer said it was spoiled by political correctness. I found it anything but that! Maybe we saw different French films.

Please - if you want a heartfelt film, this is it. Plus, you might actually learn a thing or two.

"La Fine Fleur" (2020) is a delightful French drama that takes us on an emotional journey of self-discovery, passion for art, and the beauty of unexpected friendships. Director Pierre Pinaud has crafted a visually stunning film that captures the essence of rural France and the charm of its people.

The movie follows Eve Vernet (Catherine Frot), a once-renowned horticulturist struggling to save her family estate and its cherished rose garden from being taken over by a large, soulless competitor. When three ex-convicts, Fred (Melan Omerta), Sami (Fatsah Bouyahmed), and Diego (Oliver Gourmet), are assigned to help Eve as part of their rehabilitation program, an unlikely bond forms between them. Through their shared passion for flowers and their unique perspectives on life, they work together to revive the rose garden and, in the process, rediscover the importance of friendship, love, and second chances.

Catherine Frot delivers a powerful performance as Eve, showcasing her character's vulnerability, resilience, and undeniable love for the art of horticulture. The supporting cast is equally commendable, with each actor bringing depth to their respective roles. The chemistry among the cast is palpable, making their journey all the more captivating and heartwarming.

The cinematography of "La Fine Fleur" is breathtaking, capturing the lush beauty of the French countryside and the vibrant colors of the roses. The story unfolds at a gentle pace, allowing viewers to fully immerse themselves in the world of the characters and the enchanting landscape.

The film's soundtrack, composed by Fred Avril, adds an additional layer of emotion, with its subtle melodies perfectly accompanying the narrative's twists and turns.

"La Fine Fleur" (2020) is a touching and inspiring film that reminds us of the importance of embracing our passions, forging connections with others, and the power of redemption. If you're a fan of heartfelt dramas, stunning visuals, and captivating performances, this movie should definitely be on your must-watch list.

What could have been a fine French comedy is weighed down to the point of nausea by an avalanche of clichés and politically correct remarks about genders, feminism and so on. Soooo 2021 ... A pity.

I loved this movie! The story is touching. It shows the struggle of a woman, daughter of a rose maker to keep her father's rose growing business by herself and her assistant Vera. They hire three inexperienced workers to help selectively breed and grow roses and train them in this art and profession. Eve is very determined to outwin the coopetition and at first resorts to a tactic that is not very honest. This approach does not produced the desired roses, maybe as result of karma. However, the workers that Vera has hired accidentally achieve breeding of beautiful and fragrant roses.

The movie shows how roses and people need care, attention and love, and appreciation of their unique qualities. It takes time, perseverance and patience and depends on external factors beyond one's control. Growing of beautiful roses is not an easy job, but their beauty and fragrance bring happiness to people, and growing them gives livelihood and meaning.

Besides having a very interesting plot, the movie was visually beautiful with many roses and the actors were great.

This movie came up as a recommendation on Amazon Prime, it looked cute so I tried it. I didn't realize it was all in French until about 5 minutes in (so American 🙄). It made me want to get more into roses! I laughed, I cried, and I used subtitles. I don't know French but you really don't need to, the actors and sets showed all the emotion, actions, and feelings needed to understand what was going on, I did rewind it a few times to re-read the subtitles, I didn't want to miss anything. I recommend this for the romantics (French is so pretty, even when they curse) and anyone who just enjoys a nice movie on a Sunday afternoon. It was a lovely movie and I enjoyed all of it, from beginning to end.