Journal d'un curé de campagne (1951)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Writers:

Georges Bernanos (novel)
Robert Bresson (writer)

Release Date:

5 April 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In Ambricourt, a young Priest (Claude Laydu) arrives to be the local parish priest. The community of the small town does not accept him...

Plot Keywords:

Stomach Cancer | Faith | Rural Area | Cancer | Religion

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Claude Laydu	...	Priest of Ambricourt (Curé d'Ambricourt)
Jean Riveyre	...	Count (Le Comte)
André Guibert	...	Priest of Torcy (Curé de Torcy) (as Andre Guibert)
Rachel Bérendt	...	Countess (La Comtesse) (as Marie-Monique Arkell)
Nicole Maurey	...	Miss Louise (Mlle Louise)
Nicole Ladmiral	...	Chantal
Martine Lemaire	...	Séraphita
Antoine Balpêtré	...	Dr. Delbende (Docteur Delbende) (as Balpetre)
Jean Danet	...	Olivier
Gaston Séverin	...	Canon (Le Chanoine) (as Gaston Severin)
Jeanne Étiévant	...	Housekeeper (Femme de ménage)
Bernard Hubrenne	...	Priest Dufrety (Abbé Dufréty)
Léon Arvel	...	Fabregard
Martial Morange	...	Deputy mayor (L'Adjoint)
Gilberte Terbois	...	Mrs. Dumouchel (Mme Dumouchel)

Also Known As:

Diary of a Country Priest (USA)

Runtime:

110 min | USA:95 min | Canada:122 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Tobis-Klangfilm)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved | West Germany:12 (w) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Hesdin, Pas-de-Calais, France

Company:

Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC)

Trivia:

Reportedly, director Andrei Tarkovsky's favorite film.

Quotes:

Curé de Torcy: Make order. Make order all day long. Make order while thinking that disorder will take over the following day, because it is precisely within order, unfortunately, that the night will blow away yesterday's work.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Scorsese on Scorsese (2004) (TV)

Depressive, Human and Impressive

In Ambricourt, a young Priest (Claude Laydu) arrives to be the local parish priest. The community of the small town does not accept him, and although having a serious disease in the stomach, the inexperienced and frail priest tries to help the dwellers, and has a situation with the wealthy family of the location.

"Journal d'un Curé de Campagne" is a very depressive, human and impressive movie about faith, sin, religion, guilt, love and hate. The story is centered in a tormented and naive priest, very human and therefore having flaws inclusive in his character, who tries to help people of his parish through his best efforts. Suffering from cancer in the stomach due to alcoholism problem since his generation, he writes a journal where his feelings are shared with the viewers. The cinematography and the music score are simple, but very beautiful; the direction is perfect and the performances are stunning, highlighting Claude Laydu. I am not religious, but I liked this movie. I did not read the novel of George Bernanos, but in accordance with the information in the DVD, Robert Bresson changed the personality of the priest in his adaptation to the cinema, but reaching the same objective of the original character. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Diário de um Padre" ("Journal of a Priest")