The wine movie I'd like to introduce this time is the 2018 French film "Back to Burgundy."
Following on from the previously introduced "See you in Burgundy," the setting is Burgundy, France. The story also has a similar opening, in which the protagonist is wondering whether or not to take over a winery, but the actual theme is different.
There are as many stories as there are wineries.
Wow, that sounds like a famous quote...
Source: Amazon
Three siblings were born into a winery in Burgundy. They had been taught about grapes and wine by their father since childhood in order to become his successors, but Jean, the eldest , wanted to see the wider world and so set off on a journey.
Jean had been away from Burgundy for ten years, but returned home after learning that his father was critically ill.
However, his sister Juliet and brother Jeremy were quite resentful of their older brother, who had not even attended their mother's funeral four years ago and had not been in contact with them since.
As Jean helps with the grape harvest, he gradually repairs his relationship with his brother, but soon their father dies and they are faced with the problem of a huge inheritance tax.
The inheritance tax on the vineyards and winery was simply too much for them to pay, so they had no choice but to sell the entire property or part of the vineyards.
The three men struggle with their desire not to let go of the precious winery that has been passed down for generations, but in the process, the worries that each of them has been carrying are brought to light.
Will the three be able to take over the winery, or will they have to give it up?
And will Jean choose to remain in Burgundy?
This film depicts the passion for wine and love for family of young winemakers as they rush to confront their families and their own lives.
[Characters in this article]
- Mika is 35 years old and works at an apparel company. She is getting into wine and is really interested in wine glasses.
- Iwasu is a sommelier who oversees this website. He runs a bar in Nagoya that stocks a wide range of New Zealand wines.
"Welcome Back to Burgundy" More Information
| Movie genre | Drama |
| theme | Wine making, family, parents and children |
| Original title | But you lie |
| Production year/country | 2018/France |
| time | 113 minutes |
| director | Cedric Klapisch |
| Screenplay | Cedric Klapisch |
| Cast |
・Pio Marmai She has appeared in productions such as "Interlude in Paris" (2013). In 2018, she starred in the movie "Trouble with You." He is an actor who is expected to have a bright future, having been nominated for Best Actor at the French film award, the César Awards. Ana Girardot Appeared in "FOUJITA" (2015), etc. Her father is the famous French actor Hippolyte Girardot. Francois Civil She began to attract attention after appearing in a popular drama in 2016, and has been active since 2019, starring in three movies. |
Directed by a famous French director
Director Cedric Klapisch is a French director who is also popular in Japan.
In addition to his masterpiece, "Missing Cat," his other three films, "The Spanish Apartment" (2002), "Russian Dolls" (2005), and "Parisian of New York" (2013), are known as the "Youth Trilogy" and have received high praise.
As expected from a director who specializes in youth films, this film depicts with rich expressiveness the struggles of young people over the inheritance of a winery and the vitality of the people working in the vineyards.
Featuring real winemakers
Jean-Marc Roulot plays Marcel , a veteran winemaker who works at the main characters' winery.
His main job is as a real winemaker , running Domaine Roulot in Burgundy.
Some scenes were actually shot at the Domaine Roulot winery.
The wine scenes were supervised by Mr. Rulo, which helped make the film widely accepted by wine fans around the world.
Meaning of the original title
If you directly enter the original title, "Ce qui nous lie," into Google Translate, it becomes "That which binds us," which has a slightly negative connotation.
Here, "lie" means "to connect, " so a translation of "that which connects us" might be more appropriate for this piece.
"Lie" also comes from the wine term "sur lie," which refers to the solid matter in wine: sediment .
The title plays on wine terminology! So cool!
My thoughts after watching "Welcome Back to Burgundy"
The strongest impression I had after watching this work was that feelings cannot be conveyed unless they are put into words .
Throughout the play, there are many scenes in which characters realize that severe friction has arisen due to various misunderstandings and a lack of communication.
There were many scenes where I wondered if that was why they were misunderstanding each other. I felt very frustrated. At the same time, I thought to myself, "I can relate to that."
Not only did the film portray the struggles of wine makers, but it also vividly depicted the worries and conflicts of real-life young men.
And while one might think that the story is just about the three remaining brothers, halfway through the story, Jean's wife (who is currently fighting) and children arrive from Australia, and problems emerge with the family Jeremy has married into, and various themes become intertwined, not just issues of inheritance.
These issues are not all special for someone born into a winery, but are common problems that anyone can experience in life, so people can empathize with them.
There were so many scenes I could relate to...I actually cried three times!
Of course, while it portrays the human relationships in detail, it also shows the wine-making process in chronological order.
It's a must-see for wine lovers, as it gives you a glimpse into the various steps involved in making wine, from grape cultivation to harvesting and wine brewing.
I didn't find it too difficult. The vibrant harvest season scenes left a lasting impression on me!
There are plenty of scenes that show how hard winemaking is, but also fun and happy scenes, as well as scenes that will make you think, "So that's how it's made."
This is a work that allows you to experience the charm of wine from various angles.
By the way, comparing this film to "See you in Burgundy," mentioned at the beginning of this article, it is certainly true that they give a similar impression, as they are both French films and the stories of winery families.
However, the themes they depict are similar yet different.
Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that "Welcome Back to Burgundy" has a brighter atmosphere overall, and is designed to be enjoyable even for people who have never drunk wine.
I think this is because the director specializes in youth films.
The film has everything from tear-jerking scenes to scenes that will make you laugh, and the pace is very good, so the two hours go by in a flash.
Please take a look and compare them for yourself.
Burgundy wine terminology
(Buildings and vineyards of the Pierre Clos winery in Brogundy)
We have compiled an easy-to-understand summary of the wine terms that appear in "Welcome Back to Burgundy."
There are some fairly difficult terms that pop up, so if you know them beforehand, you'll enjoy it even more.
Cuvee
Originally, it referred to barrels or tanks in which wine was fermented.
Nowadays, this term is used to refer to the wine itself that is contained in the barrel, or it is given to distinguish each wine, or it is used to mean "a special wine that is different from others."
In the play, the younger brother, who married into a nearby winery, refers to the wine he is in charge of making there as "my cuvée."
In this case, the nuance would be "the wine I made."
Rice removal
This is one of the processes in wine production, in which the sediment called lees in the wine after fermentation is removed (pulled off) from the clear, clear part on top.
Destemming
This is the process of removing the bitter and astringent stems from the grape clusters . Leaving a moderate amount of this part behind can change the flavor of the wine.
Biodynamic farming
This is the strictest of all organic farming methods. Not only does it not use pesticides or chemical fertilizers, it is also known for having unique rules based on the idea of "utilizing the power of the universe to grow crops."
Malolactic fermentation
This is the phenomenon in which the malic acid in the finished wine after normal alcoholic fermentation is converted to lactic acid by the action of lactic acid bacteria. This fermentation process mellows the acidity of the wine, giving it a gentler flavor.
summary
"Welcome Back to Burgundy" is a rich human drama that depicts the growth of three siblings born in a Burgundy winery, their love for wine, and their love for their family. It is a story that will be especially interesting for wine lovers, as it gives a detailed look at the process from grape cultivation to the completion of wine.
I think this is a work that will spark an interest in wine even for those who are new to it.
This site is useful for finding out which video streaming services offer the movie "Welcome Back to Burgundy."
▶ Welcome Back to Burgundy (Filmarks film)
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