In Jean-Loup Hubert's sentimental memoir a shy nine-year-old Paris boy enjoys a brief vacation in the country while his single mother is away having a baby. Not surprisingly, he learns some valuable lessons about life and love from the trouble-prone tomboy next door, but the film is more about the childless couple who become his surrogate parents, and who engage in an often-bitter rivalry for the boy's affection. The sudden shifts in tone from earthy humor to poignant tragedy make it a lopsided film, with the expected coming-of-age mischief balanced uneasily against moments of surprising cruelty (the drunkard husband abusing his wife). But the end result is less awkward and mawkish than a casual outline would suggest, certainly less than the inevitable, bland American remake ('Paradise', starring Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson). Hubert's style is remarkably attuned to the lazy pace of rural life (with all its reminders of mortality: notice how often the town graveyard appears in the background), and his story is honest and sympathetic, showing a refreshing lack of hindsight exaggeration.

Although I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie, I expected something a little better. Not that the movie is downright bad, but it wasn't properly what I expected.

I loved the simplicity and beauty of the french rural scenario and the acting by Antoine Hubert as Louis and Christine Pascal as Claire (Louis's mother). Christine Pascal was also a pretty woman, it's sad to know that she committed suicide.

The other actors, Richard Bohringer as Pelo, Anémone as Marcelle and Vanessa Guedj as Martine portray well their roles, but their characters aren't very likable. My biggest problems with this movie are mostly because of these 3 characters.

First off, seeing Marcelle slaughtering a rabbit alive ain't pretty to view. Made me completely hate Marcelle's character from the very start. That part alone was enough to kill the movie for me.

Second, Martine was too naughty for her age. She was only a child, she wasn't supposed to act sexually towards Louis like she often did. That is highly inappropriate for her age. Her actions were often puzzling.

Third, to see Pelo and Marcelle often arguing was unpleasant. Their discussions were often violent and sometimes went as far as domestic violence.

This movie had a remake in 1991 under the title 'Paradise', which I may or may not watch someday. I'm not sure, as my impression on the original wasn't the most favorable, which makes me have even more reservations about a remake.

"Le grand chemin" is a very pleasant, touching and poetic story about adolescents living in a little village and discovering the lives of the people. The performances of Antoine Hubert (Louis) and Vanessa Guedj (Marttine) are really excellent: I enjoy when they discover the secrets of the family, when they a couple making love , when they share these moments of friendship.