Under the Sun of Satan (1987)
"Sous le soleil de Satan" (original title)

Dossignan is a very zealous rural priest. The dean Menou-Segrais tries to keep him reasonable. But Dossignan will be tempted by Satan, then will try to save the soul of Mouchette, a young ... See full summary »

Director:

Maurice Pialat

Writers:

Georges Bernanos (novel), Sylvie Pialat (scenario),

Stars:

Gérard Depardieu, Sandrine Bonnaire, Maurice Pialat

1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gérard Depardieu	...	Donissan
Sandrine Bonnaire	...	Mouchette
Maurice Pialat	...	Menou-Segrais
Alain Artur	...	Cadignan
Yann Dedet	...	Gallet
Brigitte Legendre	...	La mère de Mouchette
Jean-Claude Bourlat	...	Malorthy
Jean-Christophe Bouvet	...	Le maquignon
Philippe Pallut	...	Le carrier
Marcel Anselin	...	Mgr Gerbier
Yvette Lavogez	...	Marthe
Pierre D'Hoffelize	...	Havret (as Pierre d'Hoffelize)
Corinne Bourdon	...	La mère de l'enfant
Thierry Der'ven	...	Sabroux
Marie-Antoinette Lorge	...	Estelle

Storyline

Dossignan is a very zealous rural priest. The dean Menou-Segrais tries to keep him reasonable. But Dossignan will be tempted by Satan, then will try to save the soul of Mouchette, a young girl who killed one of her lovers. A film about God's grace and mysticism.

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Plot Keywords:

dean | soul | priest | miracle | catholic | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

10 February 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Under the Sun of Satan

Filming Locations:

Fressin, Pas-de-Calais, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Erato Films, Films A2, Flach Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in One Hundred and One Nights (1995)

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Soundtracks

"Intermezzo de la Symphonie No. 1"
Musique: Henri Dutilleux
Orchestre National de Lyon
Direction: Serge Baudo
édition Amphion
enregistrement H.M.C. 5159 Harmonia Mundi
c/o Music Services

User Reviews

Masterpiece of French Cinema

I'm not quite sure what people mean when they say this film is "difficult". On the surface, the film has a very straightforward storyline of a priest (played brilliantly and movingly by Depardieu) struggling with his own demons that materialise internally and externally.

From this basic premise the film can be explored from several key standpoints to obtain real insights into subjects such as the power/source of faith, the relationship between thought/belief and one's relationship to the world we inhabit.

Moreover, the questioning employed by Pialat and Depardieu means that the path of thought through these issues is profound, intense and disturbing. The film provokes the intellect constantly and I could understand that if there was nothing more to the film, one might say that "is that it?"

What takes this film much further is the emotional undercurrent - both understated and abyssal, the stunning cinematography and restrained direction. These factors combine to create a complete cinematic experience.

One scene stands out in this respect: we watch the priest wander the countryside in a daze and he pauses on the side of a hill, lush with spring grass. Depardieu looks up, eyes searching for insight, an answer, a response. In a brilliant stroke of luck, passing clouds obscure the sun and Depardieu instinctively internalises this shifting light with a simultaneous passing of emotion portrayed through his face and posture. We watch both the internal shifting cloud of emotion and the changing light create a charge and intensity that is rarely seen in cinema. There is an element of the `unknowable' in this scene that still moves me, even after many viewings.

I also enjoy making comparison between this film and Dreyer's "Das Wort" (The Word), my favourite of Dreyer's works which has some common theme's, explored from different perspectives.

A truly great film, worthy of the Palme D'or it won.