La fille de l’eau (1924)

France, 1924
71m
35mm film, black and white, 1.33:1
silent

A French fantasy film directed by Jean Renoir.

Plot Summary

Virginia is left destitute after her father dies and her uncle drinks away her inheritance. She seems to find a place with a family of bohemians but is forced to flee when a spat between them and the local peasants turns ugly and she is taken in by Raynal who falls in love with her. But when Virginia’s uncle steals the money that Raynal gave her to pay her bills in the village, they lose trust in her. Contains a lengthy dream sequence.

Credits

Crew
Directed by: Jean Renoir
G.M. Film
Produced by: Jean Renoir
Scenario: Pierre Lestringuez
Photography: Jean Bachelet, Alphonse Gibory
Set Decorator: Jean Renoir

Cast
Catherine Hessling (Virginia Rosaert)
Pierre Philippe (Jef, Virginia’s uncle)
Pierre Champagne (Justin Crepoix)
Maurice Touzé (Bouche, or La Fouine, little vagabond)
Henriette Moret (La Roussette, an aging Bohemian)
Harold Lewingston (Georges Raynal)
Georges Térof (Monsieur Raynal)
Madame Fockenberghe (Madame Raynal)
Charlotte Clasis (Madame Maubien, the miller)
Pierre Renoir (a peasant)
André Derain (owner of the ‘Bon Coin’)
Van Doren (young lover)

Alternative Titles

Devojka sa reke – Yugoslavian (Serbian)
A Filha da Água – Brazil
Panna wodna – Poland
La ragazza dell’acqua – Italy
Die Tochter des Wassers – Germany
O Turbilhão do Destino – Portuguese title
A víz leánya – Hungarian title
Whirlpool of Fate – UK title
Whirlpool of Fate – USA
Дочь воды – Russian title
Дъщерята на водата – Bulgarian title

References

Periodicals

  • Cinéaste vol.33 no.1 (Winter 2007) pp.68-70 – DVD review (Jean Renoir 4-Disc Collector’s Edition by Joseph McBride)

Books

  • Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.138

Other sources

  • 58th Cannes Film Festival Catalogue May 11-22 2005 p.124 – note