The Country Doctor
French box-office star François Cluzet (The Intouchables, 2011) headlines this heartwarming and engaging medical drama from popular doctor-turned-director Thomas Lilti.
Jean-Pierre Werner (Cluzet) is a kind, no-nonsense, firmly established country doctor, who works gruelling hours and whose role in the community often extends beyond simply overseeing the physical wellbeing of his patients. When he is diagnosed with an illness which demands he stop work, he is forced to take on a replacement who, to his dismay, is the inexperienced Nathalie (Isabelle Sadoyan, Thérèse Desqueyroux, AF FFF13).
Jean-Pierre struggles to accept his reality and let go of his work, entirely unconvinced that Nathalie has what it takes to replace him. This only serves to make the handover more challenging, but little does Jean-Pierre know that beyond Nathalie’s often humorous beginner faux-pas lies a strong and resourceful woman who is determined to meet the demands of the role, and break the ice with his loyal – albeit quirky – patients.
Superbly cast and emotionally complex, this is a moving and funny character drama, which will undoubtedly leave you with a joie de vivre.