The sequel to Jean de Florette, which takes up the story of greed and deception in 1920s rural France.

The action switches 10 years on and Manon (Emmanuelle Béart), daughter of Gérard Depardieu's hunchback farmer, seeks revenge for what happened to her father.

Daniel Auteuil is once again superb as the rat-like nephew, Ugolin, and Yves Montand's performance rises to greatness in its closing stages.

Hippolyte Girardot is less convincing as the local schoolmaster.

On the whole this is a rougher, less involving effort than its predecessor, but its impact grows towards the shattering revelations of the second half and together they make up an imposing achievement.