La Vie Moderne

Through a series of portraits, Depardon narrates the lives of farmers and breeders inhabiting the mountains, capturing their values, daily lives, roots, stories, and deep connection to their land. One theme in particular dominates this film: who will take care of the land after the generations currently tending to it are gone? What will happen to all the small mountain farms? The Profils Paysans documentation began in 1998: following L’Approche and Le Quotidien, Depardon arrives at La Vie Moderne, the third installment of an intense and extensive project that took him ten years to live, understand, and document French rural and mountain life. In this final film, he returns once again to the Haut-Garonne region. The elderly Privat brothers battle the passage of time and health issues, but above all, they must face the intrusion of an outsider. An older couple struggles to find the strength to deal with ongoing livestock problems. A middle-aged man confronts the weight of managing the family farm, while a young woman faces insurmountable challenges in pursuing her dream of becoming a breeder. Depardon portrays all his subjects with sincerity and empathy, painting a picture of nature and a landscape that, while at times harsh, possesses a profoundly moving beauty.

The screening is part of the program Rural, which accompanies the exhibition Il Nostro Tempo, CinéFondationCartier.