La Petite Fadette (2004)

This was on TV last night. A beautiful movie about a farmer's son, Landry, who is engaged to a rich young lady, Madelon. I was late about 20-25 minutes, so I missed the beginning. It appeared that Landry gets a help from a poor girl named Fadette, an orphan who can heal sick people with herbs, so the village people see her as either a witch and a strumpet. Landry promises Fadette something in return and she asks him to grant her 2-3 dances in the upcoming ball. Landry is dancing with Madelon when Fadette comes, but he cannot escape from his promise. Angry, Madelon pretends to be nice to other men. Gradually, Landry begins to realize that Fadette is beautiful and kind, he starts to love her, and they must face obstacles before they can be together.

Other important characters are: 1) Sylvinet, Landry's twin-brother, who is much weaker. In a fight for his love, Landry almost kills Sylvinet, but Fadette saves him with her herbs. 2) Landry's father, who puts his hope so much on his son's future marriage, that he borrows a big sum of money to re-buy his old vineyard. 3) Fadette's grand-mother, who warns her often about her place in society and her disgraced mother. 4) Landry's mother, who raised the twins in such a way that Sylvinet cannot live without Landry.

Among the cast, I only know Annie Girardot (the grand-mother). Never saw Mélanie Bernier (who plays Fadette) before, but she is very pretty.