Profils Paysans: L’Approche - Raymond Depardon

The first documentary in the Profils paysans trilogy, L’Approche (2001) introduces farmers living in southern France through a series of initial encounters. Filmed over an extended period and often in long, static shots, the film establishes a sense of trust that allows the farmers to speak openly about their work, isolation and attachment to the land. It lays the foundation for the trilogy’s observational approach and measured pace.