MovieChat Forums > Manon des sources (1987) Discussion > Cesar, on balance, is rewarded rather th...

Cesar, on balance, is rewarded rather than punished in the end(Spoilers)

posted 12 years ago by JustMammal
6 replies | jump to latest

If Cesar was concerned about the continuation of his genetic line, than the knowledge that he has a beautiful, fertile granddaughter, is great news for him !

Sure he lost a semi-retarded, inbred nephew, with which he shared 25% of genes (since he shared 50% of genes with his brother). But he also shares 25% of genes with his beautiful & smart granddaughter (since he shared 50% of genes with his hunchback son).

Cesar might have felt a lot of guilt but at least he gained lots of hope. Had he only have an inbred nephew, who knows if he was ever marry and/or have healthy kids? So, guilty feelings aside, Cesar must have felt better off at the end of the movie, than the beginning. And since he was rather old, it wasn't such big deal for him to die.

So do we see any justice in the movie? Not really. The old man got his wish(i.e. genetic continuity) in ways he wasn't aware of, despite his failure to achieve them through his ignoble deeds.

Now if his granddaughter was killed or rendered infertile (e.g. through rape) by his retarded nephew before he committed suicide. Now that would have been true punishment !

[–] bostonfilmfan 12 years ago

No, one doesn't kill oneself after having gained "lots of hope". He was punished in the worst possible way - Jean was not just his descendant, but first and foremost, his son with the only woman he loved in his life, and he missed the opportunity to enjoy that. His lost love is a sentimental side of this cruel person, his Achilles Heel, and that's where he gets hurt. It's a shot through the heart.

[–] Lem_Fliggity 12 years ago

Cesar didn't kill himself, he died of a broken heart.

Otherwise I agree with you, all enjoyment of life died when he learned that he engineered the death of his only son. Whatever joy Cesar might have derived from knowing his genetic line would continue was dashed against the rocks of a dead heart. Le Papet didn't just want descendants, he wanted to be the patriarch of the Soubeyran clan, to enjoy watching his son and daughter with their children play in the family orchard and to one day die smiling sitting under the shade his porch. He got none of this. He died very unhappy, thinking his granddaughter would despise him and probably knowing that he would be remembered only as a cautionary tale.

Drill little holes into my eyelids, that I might see you when I sleep

[–] bunnywithanaxe 12 years ago

Very well put, Lem

[–] greenbudgie 8 years ago

Cesar's heart was broken. I just wonder how a man, who is still walking about, can decide when he's going to die just like that. A bedridden person may be able to give up on life. I wasn't really convinced that a man like Cesar could lie on a bed one night and let himself go, as he puts it.

[–] london777 8 years ago

Sure he lost a semi-retarded, inbred nephew
"Semi-retarded" is bit strong. Tens of millions of our fellow citizens are no brighter, as the current US primaries and the Brexit vote in the UK have shown.

Many rural people in remote communities are like that. And he did have the innovative and profitable idea of growing carnations and the resolve to push it through despite his over-bearing uncle's initial ridicule.

He was not an evil person, just manipulated by his cunning uncle. His tears for Jean's death were genuine.

Another little touch I liked was when it really hurt Cesar to see Jean's land suffering. He was briefly moved to salvage the situation before greed and pride asserted themselves again. It showed that, despite his faults, Cesar had the same symbiotic attachment to the land as any other traditional peasant.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Since Manon hated him and would never carry the Soubeyran name, the line is over. It's not really a reward, if anything he just gave everything to her out of guilt.