I think a lot about why and how small villages develop. Through my film, I’ve visited two: Zusamaltheim in Bavaria and Lusignan in France. Both are relatively quiet (in my view); there are lots of shops that have closed down: the optician’s, the photo shop, the grocery shop, the newspaper and tabac shop.
Both had a bakery, though! But no café where the villagers could meet up for a chat. Both, however, had an organic shop set up on the locals’ own initiative! The one in Zusamaltheim was a farm shop run by the only organic farmer for kilometers around; the one in Lusignan was a lovingly run organic shop with plenty of local fruit and vegetables, cider and wine (I bought the most delicious pear cider in the world there!!).
I’m thinking about the evolution of villages now.
