Le Café du pont (2010)
Directed by Manuel Poirier

Film Review

Manuel Poirier's chronicle of family life in the immediate aftermath of WWII (adapted from Pierre Perret's recently published memoirs) is an anodyne collection of childhood memories which lacks any real depth or emotional power.  Whilst the film is elegantly photographed and succeeds in evoking the period in which it is set, the superficial characterisation and lacklustre narrative prevent it from being a particularly memorable or satisfying piece of cinema.  Nonetheless, although a lightweight and pretty bland affair, the film has a certain homespun charm, and a simplicity which will doubtless appeal to anyone who is seeking relief from the stresses and strains of modern life.

Film Synopsis

In 1947, Pierrot is a contented 12-year-old living in the south of France with his parents, the owners of a popular café.  The little boy likes nothing better than to go fishing on the banks of the canals, and he leads an idyllic life in the company of his friends and younger brother.  Times were hard when the country was under Nazi occupation, but even though resources are still scarce, Pierrot and his family now lead a reasonably comfortable life.  The boy's father dreams of extending his café by building a dancehall, but he knows that this will be a colossal undertaking for a man of his modest means.  In any event, such plans look like pie in the sky when his wife suddenly shows signs of illness.  After a routine medical examination, Pierrot's mother learns that she is suffering from acute fatigue and badly needs a long rest.  His father has no choice but to take over the running of the café by himself...