Le Jardinier, la Terre et le Paysage

Franck and Bertrand are two self-employed landscape gardeners who live, one in Pas-de-Calais, the other in Vendée. They are candidates for the competition to find the best craftsmen in France, in the garden art section. The reasons why they have applied are different, but both are extremely motivated. Franck and Bertrand have been preparing for months. The aim is to be awarded the title of best craftsman in France. Franck is the only wage-earner in his firm. The camera follows him on a visit to a client where Franck installs a patio, then we find him doing maintenance on a Japanese garden. Bertrand, on the other hand, directs a firm with several employees. Every morning, he shares out the jobs among his employees, then goes to see his nurseryman, chooses the plants and shrubs he will use during the day to adorn private gardens and parks. We find our two candidates at home in front of a sheet of drawing paper. They are drawing the garden they will make during the final test which will take place in Strasbourg. The theme is imposed : a public reading room... For two days, in a marquee, the five candidates who have survived the qualifying heats face each other. Each one has to create an ornamental garden in the time given. The choice of plants and minerals is identical for all the candidates. It is autumn, the plants available are not very varied. Two days of relentless work, groves and stone benches have sprouted. Franck and Bertrand are exhausted, but satisfied with the work done. The jury has conferred, one last surprise awaits our candidates..