238. Journal d'un Curé de Campagne (Diary Of a Country Priest) (1951)

Directed By Robert Bresson

Synopsis

A priest is put in not the most pious of cities, he debates himself with poor health, doubts about his own faith, and the spiritual well-being of his not very friendly parish. It all ends badly.

Review

This film marks a sea-change in the French films we have had on this list, it eschew all the lovely humour that has made French cinema so great until not, for a psychological level of drama and introspection that has made French cinema famous now.

This has the terrible effect of making the film look like a caricature of French Cinema itself, I am expecting at any moment to see someone drinking a Stella Artois and that it was all an advert.

On the other hand, this progression is an important one in showing us the possibilities of cinema, it is definitely not a shallow medium, and nothing could be less shallow than this film, tackling God, death and despair is not light snacking. At times it does however seem to be too concerned with its own navel. Still, a good, if not excellent film.

Final Grade

8/10

Trivia

From Wikipedia:

Narrated in the voice of the idealistic priest it explores his struggle to overcome the lethargy of the people in his parish. As the priest, whose name is never spoken, tells the story of his daily work, his parish becomes a microcosm for the universal struggles, griefs and triumphs of humankind. Bresson began his trademark technique of using only nonprofessionals as actors in this, his third feature film.

The countess scene: