| Director | François Girard |
|---|---|
| Genre | drama film, film based on a novel |
| Runtime | 110 min |
| Country | Canada, France, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom |
| Budget | $22 million |
| Box office | $8 million |
The film opens with Hervé narrating his observations of an unidentified Asian woman bathing in a hot spring, then stating that his story actually begins earlier, when he returned to his hometown in 19th century France while on leave from the army. He meets Hélène, a teacher, who wants nothing more than a garden and Hervé, who wants nothing more than to marry her.