Profiles of Farmers: Daily Life

The second of farmer’s son Depardon’s documentaries on the mountain shepherds and arable farmers of the Lozère, Ardèche and Haute-Loire regions of France. In essence, the picture is one of crisis. Many of those interviewed (and filmed working and socialising) are in their 70s and 80s, lamenting (but accepting)that, very often, their children will not take over their holdings, preferring other less back-breaking employ. The main beef is the operation of the EU agricultural policy (which has caused the demise of small diary cattle herds) and the operation of the pensions policy. There is an aura of sadness over proceedings; their way of life is disappearing, possibly for ever.