A French film diptych

Yesterday, Wife and I watched classic French film Jean de Florette, from way back in 1986.

It was the first time that either of us had seen it, and it was very pleasing.

At the end, though, we really wanted to watch the second part of the story, which is set some 20 years later and is called Manon Des Sources. We didn't want to wait the 17 months it was likely to take to wend its way through our online video rental service, though, so I decided to call our local video store.

"Hello," I said when the guy picked up the phone. "I just wondered whether you have a copy of Manon Des Sources."

Silence. Then: "Sorry, what was that name again?" he asked.

"Manon Des Sources," I repeated. Uncomfortable silence now.

Then: "Um, we've got Man on Fire, is that what you mean?"

Note: This blog post is meant for entertainment purposes only, and the story told herein may not have actually happened. In fact, it didn't. Only the bit about watching the film happened. The rest was a discussion between me and Wife about what might have happened if we had called the video store. Patronizing, aren't we? Sorry.