Joseph

A comparison with the first film version is entirely appropriate, and the new adaptation unfortunately falls significantly short in many aspects, even though the way the old farmer resolves the situation with two criminal gangs on his property retains its charm. It's not just that Pierre Mondy simply isn't Gabin, and despite all efforts, he doesn't suit the role of a patriarchal, uncompromising farmer. The screenplay of the first version was tighter, more straightforward, and simply cinematic, whereas the new version is more diffuse, talkative, and overly sentimental, almost too reliant on emotions. Overall impression: 50%. (2008-08-16)