Leon Morin, Pretre
1961
Jean-Paul Belmondo (A BOUT DE SOUFFLE) stars in this film set during the French Occupation. He plays Leon Morin, a handsome young priest who captures the attention of an attractive and flirtatious young widow named Barny (Emmanuele Riva). A communist and an atheist, Barny enters Morin's church on a whim one day and engages him .. Read more
| Starring | Jean-Paul Belmondo, Emmanuelle Riva, Irene Tunc, Nicole Mirel |
|---|---|
| Director | Jean-Pierre Melville |
| Genres | Thriller, World Cinema |
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Leon Morin, Pretre
Jean-Paul Belmondo (A BOUT DE SOUFFLE) stars in this film set during the French Occupation. He plays Leon Morin, a handsome young priest who captures the attention of an attractive and flirtatious young widow named Barny (Emmanuele Riva). A communist and an atheist, Barny enters Morin's church on a whim one day and engages him in a conversation during which she severely criticises his faith. Surprisingly intrigued by his replies, Barny comes to develop a platonic relationship with the priest, but her burgeoning romantic obsession for this forbidden man of the cloth fuels the film with a terrific erotic charge.
| Starring | Jean-Paul Belmondo, Emmanuelle Riva, Irene Tunc, Nicole Mirel, Gisele Grimm, Marco Behar, Monique Bertho |
|---|---|
| Director | Jean-Pierre Melville |
| Studio | BFI VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 55 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Thriller, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: French |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 26 Apr 2004 Production year: 1961 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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Few French film-makers have been as forthcoming about the Occupation as Jean-Pierre Melville. If his Resistance tribute, L'Armée des Ombres, is akin to film noir, this insight into the overpowering nature of love and faith irresistibly recalls the restrained character studies of Robert Bresson. Reining in his natural exuberance, Jean-Paul Belmondo is holy yet human as the small-town priest whose gentle ministrations elicit both spiritual and sexual responses from the previously agnostic Emmanuelle Riva. Sparse yet utterly convincing in its period detail, this is a potent study of the mysteries of divine intervention.
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Melville's extraordinary excursion into Bressonian territory, set in a provincial town during the World War II German... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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11 out of 11 people found this review helpful
God versus Communism
Great idea and one from a great director that lived above his studio, going down each morning to fullfill his dreams on celluliod.
The only reservation is the demure nature of the revolutionary, perhaps reflecting the nature of 1940's party organisation, she is easy prey for the pretty priest.
This aside, its well told and compelling, great cinematography and a rich story line, speaking of the need for women to prove the father of their child was neither communist, jewish or both.
Belmondo takes the part of priest and the heart of the communist deftly.
Recommended, but remember it was made over 40 years ago, and like a lot of cinema, it is showing its age. -
Most recent members' review
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11 out of 11 people found this review helpful
God versus Communism
Great idea and one from a great director that lived above his studio, going down each morning to fullfill his dreams on celluliod.
The only reservation is the demure nature of the revolutionary, perhaps reflecting the nature of 1940's party organisation, she is easy prey for the pretty priest.
This aside, its well told and compelling, great cinematography and a rich story line, speaking of the need for women to prove the father of their child was neither communist, jewish or both.
Belmondo takes the part of priest and the heart of the communist deftly.
Recommended, but remember it was made over 40 years ago, and like a lot of cinema, it is showing its age. -
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Jean-Paul Belmondo (A BOUT DE SOUFFLE) stars in this film set during the French Occupation. He plays Leon Morin, a handsome young priest who captures the attention of an attractive and flirtatious ... -