

For ten years, Raymond Depardon has followed the lives of farmer living in the mountain ranges. He allows us to enter their farms with astounding naturalness. This moving film speaks, with great serenity, of our roots and of the future of the people who work on the land. This the last part of Depardon's triptych "Profils paysans" about what it is like to be a farmer today in an isolated highland area in France. "La vie moderne" examines what has become of the persons he has followed for ten years, while featuring younger people who try to farm or raise cattle or poultry, come hell or high water.
Cinematography
Depardon shoots landscapes like they're characters.
Direction
Twenty years of trust lets subjects forget cameras exist.
Editing
Juxtaposes past and present footage with devastating clarity.

Director
Raymond Depardon
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Depardon—a farmer's son himself—spent decades photographing rural France before filming, making this essentially a life's work.
The 'Profils paysans' trilogy spans 2001-2008; some subjects died between films, appearing only in archival footage.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters