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.

Renowned photographer and filmmaker, Raymond Depardon has developed his documentary practice over more than six decades. His films have offered close observation across settings like psychiatric hospitals, courtrooms, the media, rural France and zones of conflict, with steady attention to everyday situations. Works such as San Clemente, Reporters and Délits flagrants form a clear and precise record in which time and listening are central. Since the 1980s, working closely with sound recordist and producer Claudine Nougaret, Depardon has shaped a restrained cinema that moves between intimate encounters and historical record.