The 2011 French movie “The Well Digger’s Daughter” (La Fille du Puisatier) suggests that Americans aren’t so different from the French. In this gentle romantic drama, there’s a little scandal, snobbery and, in the distance, a war, but also a happy ending. “The Well Digger’s Daughter” opens at the Pasadena Playhouse 7 today, 27 July 2012.

Based on a novel by Marcel Pagnol–the author who gave us “Jean de Florette” and “Manon des Sources,” the story transports us to the beautiful French countryside among the the common folk. The titular girl, Patricia (Astrid Berges-Frisbey), is actually only one of several daughters of the widower Pascal Amoretti (Daniel Auteuil).  She is honorably pursued by her father’s helper, the sweet and kindly Felipe (Kad Merad) and less honorably by the young privileged Jacques Mazel (Nicolas Duvauchelle).

Patricia was briefly educated in Paris, and this made her more sophisticated than most of the people in her humble town. She knows she is too poor to be a suitable match for Jacques whose father  (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) owns a local general store. Yet fate seems to push the passive and inexperienced Patricia into his arms and a brief encounter leaves her pregnant.

Jacques is already away at war when she discovers her problem and when her father takes her to inform Jacques’ parents, Patricia and her father receive the full bitter measure of Mme. Mazel’s (Sabine Azéma) class consciousness anger. Because we don’t see the ugliness of World War I, the idyllic nature of this fairy tale is preserved.

Director/writer Auteuil played the unlucky suitor Ugolin in the 1986 “Jean de Florette” and “Manon of the Spring.” Ugolin was in love with the much younger Manon, but he was alsothe co-conspirator who helped bring the ruin of Manon’s father when the Manon was still a child.

Auteuil is familiar with the gradual build and gentle development of characters. This is a minor tale and you think you know how it will end, but Pagnol and Auteuil put in small touches that make the unfolding of these lives worth watching. Sit back and savor the small tragedies and comedies of these lives and the beautiful countryside which is their home.

MONICA 4-PLEX 07.27.12

PLAYHOUSE 7 07.27.12

TOWN CENTER 5 07.27.12