Journal d'un curé de campagne (Diary of a Country Priest) (1951)
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94% of critics liked it
(35 reviews) -
86% of users liked it
(4,266 ratings)
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… More 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 Drawn from a novel by Georges Bernanos, the film centers on the priest of Ambricourt (Claude Laydu), a withdrawn, devout young man whose social awkwardness leaves him isolated from the community he is meant to serve.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, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert Bresson
- Written By
- Georges Bernanos, Robert Bresson
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1951 Limited
- Studio
- Rialto Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Anthony Lane, New Yorker
The chance to see Robert Bresson's Diary of a Country Priest... should not be passed up; it is an enterprise of great pith and moment in the history of cinema.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
A film like Diary of a Country Priest gathers its strength as it continues. There's always the sense that Bresson knows exactly where he's going and the simplest way to get there.
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Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
A film that words fail.
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Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
The word 'sublime' has often been used to describe this Robert Bresson masterpiece, a slow-paced film of great purity that portrays the pain and occasional joy of the religious life.
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Keith Uhlich, Time Out New York
The full scope of the film's brilliance hits you with the force of a knockout punch.
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Cast
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Claude Laydu
as Priest of Ambricourt
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André Guibert
as The Priest of Torcy
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Marie-Monique Arkell
as Countess
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Jean Riveyre
as The Count
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Nicole Maurey
as Mlle. Louis
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Nicole Ladmiral
as Chantal
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Serge Bento
as Mitonnet
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Antoine Balpêtré
as Dr. Delbende
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Jean Danet
as Olivier
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Yvette Etiévant
as Housekeeper
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Martine Lemaire
as Seraphita
- Bernard Hubrenne
- Léon Arvel
