The Children of the Marshland

In 1918, in the Marais along the banks of the Loire, Riton (Jacques Villeret) lives with a bad-tempered wife and three unruly children. Garris (Jacques Gamblin) lives alone with his memories of the trenches, and the two get through seasonal work and visits from their friends, among them Amédée (André Dussollier), a dreamer who reads the classics. Jean Becker keeps the film in these small daily comings and goings, with no plot hurrying anyone along.