Hill

In the heart of Provence a century ago, four stone houses stood on a hillside. Wild nature surrounded them, with a patchwork of fields and a threatening mass of greenery encroaching upon the village. The animal kingdom, featuring a mimicking cat and a menacing boar, exhibited its own will.

The four houses sheltered about a dozen residents, among them Gagou, a mute wanderer. The oldest man, Janet, was confined to bed, sensing snakes writhing in his fingers and speaking in tongues. Despite this, everything was fine until the village fountain unexpectedly dried up. From that moment, a life-and-death struggle ensued between humans and the natural world, with all the elements—fire, water, earth, and air—playing a role.

From a young age, Jean Giono explored the hills of his native Provence. He soaked up local oral traditions while also immersing himself in Greek and Roman classics. Giono's unique blend of idiomatic storytelling and Homeric and Virgilian mythology captivated audiences in Paris and New York.