The wine movie I'd like to introduce this time is "See You in Burgundy," which is set in Burgundy, France.
Burgundy is a very famous wine producing region, isn't it? But can you enjoy it even if you don't know much about French wine?
The theme of this movie is wine, but it is not a movie that you can understand without specialized knowledge. It is more of a human drama that focuses on human relationships. I'm sure anyone can easily get into the worldview of this movie.
Source: Amazon
The protagonist, Charlie , is the only son of a historic winery in Burgundy. He hates being tied down by the family business and lives in Paris as a wine critic, but one day his sister tells him that the family winery is on the verge of bankruptcy.
The winery was somehow managed by his father, François , and his sister's husband, but François is depressed after divorcing his wife and seems to have no energy at all to revive the failing winery.
If things continue like this, the winery that was practically his birth and upbringing will end up in someone else's hands...
Charlie had been a successful wine critic and was enjoying a smooth sailing life, but he decided to return to his hometown to rebuild his beloved winery. Although he was virtually an amateur when it came to winemaking, he went through a process of trial and error, trying new methods and facing the threats of nature that befall the vineyards, in order to create a unique wine.
However, the stubborn François had closed his heart off to Charlie, who had once abandoned the winery.
As Charlie faces the hometown he turned his back on once again and struggles for his family, will he be able to save the winery?
[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.
More information on "See you in Burgundy"
| Movie genre | Drama |
| theme | Wine making, family, parents and children |
| Original title | Premiers Crus |
| Production year/country | 2016/France |
| time | 97 minutes |
| director | Jerome Le Maire |
| Screenplay | Jerome Le Maire |
| Cast |
・Jalil Lespert She has appeared in films such as "Flowers in Paris" (2011). He directed and wrote the screenplay for "Yves Saint Laurent" (2014). ・Gerard Lanvin She has appeared in films such as "And Then My Friend Die Quietly" (2011). He won the French film awards César Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. A national actor well known for his cool acting. ・Alice Taglioni She has appeared in films such as "Night of the Sky" (2005). His latest film, "Antique Festival," will be released in Japan in 2020. |
I haven't seen many French films so I had never seen any of the actors before, but they all had such a great atmosphere and were wonderful!
This film also attracted attention as it was the first French film to be shot entirely in Burgundy . You can't take your eyes off the extravagant backdrops, including vast vineyards and medieval buildings.
The lead actor, Jalil Lespert, is not only active as an actor, but has also demonstrated his multifaceted talents by serving as director and screenwriter for the worldwide acclaimed film "Yves Saint Laurent."
The original title "Premiers Cru" means "first-class vineyard" in Burgundy. It is the second highest ranking after "Grand Cru" in the ranking of vineyards in Burgundy.
Knowing this, you may wonder what the intention behind choosing to title it "Premier Cru" was.
Unfortunately, we are unable to find any reliable information to provide any further information, but it may be that the title was deliberately chosen to refer to the wine in a lower class as a sign of respect for Grand Cru, the world's finest vineyards.
My impressions after watching "See you in Burgundy"
The Burgundy region of France, where the story takes place, is one of the world's best wine-producing regions. Wine is made in this region using traditional styles that have been handed down for generations.
However, no matter how great the wines a winery produces, it can be forced to go bankrupt or be acquired for various reasons, such as being unable to maintain quality, deteriorating management, or a lack of successors.
The protagonist Charlie's family home was one of the wineries that found itself in such a predicament.
When he learns from his sister that the winery is on the verge of bankruptcy, he sets out to save it. However, although he is a skilled wine critic, he is an amateur wine maker. Nevertheless, he boldly tries to try new methods.
At first, I had a negative impression of him because he seemed so self-centered, thinking "He just showed up out of nowhere and is so selfish even though he has no experience" (laughs). I was even skeptical, thinking "Can you really make wine?"
But little by little, Charlie begins to change.
In rural Burgundy, an environment completely different from the glamorous city of Paris, we see a never-before-seen sight of winemakers covered in sweat and soil ploughing the fields and working hard to protect the grapes from the threats of nature.
Having been successful in Paris, Charlie was a man with the courage to take on new challenges.
For example, in a scene where someone denies his idea and says, "No one would do that," he counters with a quote from Ghandi : "First they ignore you, then they laugh, and finally they copy you." It was very impressive. (I want to emulate that.)
The more I watched the more I felt like I wanted to support them!
The biggest obstacle in this situation is the presence of his father, François .
" Winemaking is all about family. Doing it alone is a lonely endeavor," says the father, who seems to be emotionally exhausted after his son left him and his wife divorced him. His passion for winemaking is unparalleled, but he is a stubborn man with a strong sense of pride. The gap between him and Charlie has also grown quite deep.
What bridges that gap is Charlie's passion for wine and his drive.
François gradually comes to understand her unflinching determination to create new wines despite being opposed to everything she does, and her desire to protect the winery and the memories of her family.
The father's expression, which had been tense throughout the film, gradually softens towards the end. It was a relief to see!
The process of how the bond between father and son is reborn is also a major theme of the film. In fact, it is precisely because of this central theme that the story is enjoyable even for those who are not familiar with wine.
And one more thing: while the vast vineyards of Burgundy and the beautiful scenery of historic castles and buildings are certainly worth seeing, there are also some scenes that make you feel the threat of nature.
In many wine-producing regions, it is important to eliminate artificial things such as machines and chemical fertilizers as much as possible, and to make the wine retain the characteristics of the land. A great deal of effort is put into this.
However, they cannot win against the threats of nature. In the film, there is a scene in which the fields are damaged by hail , but there is no way to protect the entire vast vineyard from hail.
It was a scene that depicted the harsh reality that winemaking, which involves accepting the bounty of nature as it is, means that one has no choice but to accept the threats that nature poses.
The protagonist's courage in facing the threats of nature really conveys his desire to take on new challenges without hesitation!
By the way, the "new method" that Charlie used is a wine production method that was used a long time ago, but it is a method that has recently attracted attention again and is making a comeback.
Burgundy wine terminology
We have compiled an easy-to-understand summary of the wine terms that appear in "See You in Burgundy."
Please read it before watching to get a better understanding.
Domaine
A winery in Burgundy is called a Domaine.
Terroir
The natural environment, such as the climate, soil, and topography, in which grapes are grown.
Colton
The name of the Grand Cru (premier vineyard) in the village of Aloxe-Corton, where the protagonist's family's domaine (winery) is located.
Aloxe-Corton is also home to the famous producer Louis Latour .
Licorice
Licorice is an important keyword in this work.
Also known as Spanish liquorice, it is a type of licorice used in traditional Chinese medicine. The root is used as a sweetener in food processing.
You'll have to wait and see what the keywords will be.
summary
"See You in Burgundy" tells the story of a son's efforts to rebuild a failing winery while also rebuilding the fractured ties of his family.
The beautiful scenery of vineyards and historical buildings is extremely impressive, making this a tasteful work that can be enjoyed even by those with no special knowledge of wine.
Burgundy is said to be one of the world's best wine producing regions. However, the wines available in Japan may have the image of being expensive and difficult to understand.
However, no matter how high-quality a wine is, it is made by humans, and there must be as many dramas involved as there are people involved. I think this film will give you a glimpse into the lives of the people involved in winemaking.
This site is useful for finding video streaming services that offer the movie "See you in Burgundy."
▶ See you in Burgundy (Filmarks film)
We have compiled a list of 15 movies reviewed on this site. Please take a look!
▶ 15 recommended wine movies! Introducing them with comments from sommeliers
