An austere look at the experiences of a young priest in a small French parish, Robert Bresson's masterly Le Journal d'un curé de campagne (Diary of a Country Priest) presents a powerful, complex exploration of faith underneath a deceptively simple exterior. Drawn from a novel by Georges Bernanos, the film centers on the priest .. Read more
| Starring | Claude Laydu, Jean Riveyre |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Bresson |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
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An austere look at the experiences of a young priest in a small French parish, Robert Bresson's masterly Le Journal d'un curé de campagne (Diary of a Country Priest) presents a powerful, complex exploration of faith underneath a deceptively simple exterior. Drawn from a novel by Georges Bernanos, the film centers on the priest of Ambricourt (Claude Laydu), a withdrawn, devout young man whose social awkwardness leaves him isolated from the community he is meant to serve. Further problems derive from the priest's ill health, which limits him to a diet of bread and wine and hinders his ability to perform his duties. Growing sicker and increasingly uncertain about his purpose in life, the priest undergoes a crisis of faith that threatens to drive him away from his village and from God. Bresson presents his spiritual tale in a minimalist, unadorned style, relying on a rigorous series of stripped-down shots and utilizing non-actors in many of the supporting roles. The approach may initially seem distancing or ponderous to a contemporary audience, but the cumulative impact of the brilliant visuals and Laydu's powerful, restrained performance is unquestionable. Almost universally acclaimed, this searching drama is generally considered one of Bresson's finest works and a crucial classic of world cinema.~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
| Starring | Claude Laydu, Jean Riveyre |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Bresson |
| Studio | ELEVATION |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 51 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: French |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | Production year: 1950 To Rent: DVD: 24 Mar 2008 |
Alone and dying of cancer, a young curate faces the mortal torment of failure in his task of saving souls. What he... read more on Time Out
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FATHER TED; INTELLECTUAL BY COMPARRISON
From; SILVER HARP Edinburgh
Diary of a Country Priest
Here’s a nugget of ‘wisdom’ from the curate at the centre of this ... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
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Tricky but worth it
This is not a film to chill out to, it takes a little effort to get the point. The point being angst and lack of confidence. There are some strong images and ... read more »
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Diary of a Country Priest (1950)
Bloody hard work! Like many Bresson films the film is centred around an outsider in society - here a spiritually and emotionally troubled young priest in his ... read more »
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Brilliant
There are no explosions, there is no Oscar-conscious overacting, the story does not rely on plot twists, there are no good-looking movie stars - it is not ... read more »
by:
Tolis
from Kent
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