In 1986, Daniel Auteuil was greeted for the first time by the critics thanks to “Jean de Florette”. However, he was not the first choice to play the character of Ugolin. Indeed, the actor and humorist Coluche was approached to play in the film. He was not the only one.
Jean de Florette : the masterpiece of Claude Berri.
Successful director and producer Claude Berri turned to an ambitious project in the 1980s: adapting Spring water, famous diptych by Marcel Pagnol. The latter is composed of Jean de Florette and of Manon des Sources. Simultaneously turning the two works, he released them the same year in 1986. The production lasted several years, due to laborious filming and the initial refusal of Jacqueline Pagnol (Marcel’s wife) to cede the rights.
Jean de Florette takes place in a small village in Haute Provence and follows Ugolin, a young farmer who wants to inherit land to grow carnations. His old uncle Papet is ready to do anything for him to succeed. Including to defeat the projects of Jean de Florette, a city dweller who has come to settle on the property they covet.
Critically acclaimed, Claude Berri’s feature film has a trio of 5 stars: Daniel Auteuil, Yves Montand and Gérard Depardieu. He will especially receive many awards, including the César for Best Actor for Daniel Auteuil in 1987, or the BAFTA for Best Film in 1988.
Coluche at the helm
To play the character of Ugolin, Claude Berri initially thought of assigning the role to Coluche. Indeed, in the past, the director had already directed the comedian in The Schoolmaster and especially in Tchao Pantin. It is also within the latter that Coluche has definitely proven that he can play a dramatic role. So he was able to act in a drama such as Jean de Florette.
However, while he was convincing in testing, the actor did not feel comfortable playing a character who had a Provencal accent. Not wanting to steal the place of an actor whom he considered more deserving than him, he then made sure not to be caught. Indeed, Coluche demanded a relatively high salary to be part of the cast, which earned him a refusal.
Other great actors were also approached to play Ugolino: Jacques Villeret who had revealed himself via Cabbage soup, and Richard Anconina who drew the spotlight on him after his performance in Tchao Pantin. Nevertheless, on the advice of Yves Montand, Claude Berri finally turned to Daniel Auteuil.
An underestimated actor
Until now, Daniel Auteuil was an actor who had acquired his notoriety thanks to schoolboy comedies such as the saga The Under-Gifted. Claude Berri was therefore not completely convinced that it could do the trick in a feature film such as Jean de Florette, as he points out in First :
Claude Berri wants to see me for Jean de Florette. I go to see him and there, straight away, he tells me that it will not work… Because I am too handsome!
The actor therefore gave of his person during the casting, even finding his accent from the south which he had in his youth. The director ends up hiring him.
A winning bet since alongside big names such as Yves Montand and Gérard Depardieu, the actor is revealed in a dramatic role. Since this role in Jean de Florette, Daniel Auteuil has become one of the greatest French actors of his generation. A victory for this actor who has long been underestimated.
