In it Germain (Gerard Depardieu) is about to experience the greatest encounter of his life.

Forty-five years old, testy, unmarried and almost illiterate, he lives in a camper-van in his wacky mother's garden and spends most of his time at the bistro with his mates.

Every afternoon, Germain goes to the same park bench to eat his usual baguette.

But one day he happens to sit beside Margueritte - a petite, elderly woman with a passion for the written word.

There's 40 years between them and only one thing in common - an affection for pigeons.

An astonishing friendship develops between the pair.

Margueritte reads him extracts from her favourite novels, from Camus to Sepulveda, and under her guidance Germain's life begins to change.

He discovers a love of literature and with it a wisdom which confounds his friends at the bistro.

When Margueritte's eyesight starts to fail, Germain sees an opportunity to use his love for this charming and kind soul to improve both his own life and hers.

It's no surprise that one of this year's most idiosyncratic French productions conquered audiences and critics across the Channel.

A tender and well-scripted comedy-drama, it's witty and touched by lunacy.

It's also a homage to the love for culture that can reach beyond the barriers of social class.

And it demonstrates that literature is not the privilege of the educated elite, a la those espousing Sarkozy's politics.

The restrained style allows Depardieu's performance room to breathe and together with the 95-year-old Gisele Casadeus - one of France's most renowned stage actresses - it delivers many touching moments.

Veteran French director Jean Becker has made another great film.

And in so doing, he has certainly reconfirmed his talent.