Sous le soleil de Satan (1987)

Director:

Maurice Pialat

Writers:

Georges Bernanos (novel)
Maurice Pialat (writer)

Release Date:

10 February 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Dossignan is a very zealous rural priest. The dean Menou-Segrais tries to keep him reasonable. But Dossignan will be tempted by Satan...

Plot Keywords:

Satan | Priest | Rural | Devil | Confessional

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Gérard Depardieu	...	Donissan
Sandrine Bonnaire	...	Mouchette
Maurice Pialat	...	Menou-Segrais
Alain Artur	...	Cadignan
Yann Dedet	...	Gallet
Brigitte Legendre	...	Mouchette's Mother
Jean-Claude Bourlat	...	Malorthy
Jean-Christophe Bouvet	...	Horse Dealer
Philippe Pallut	...	Quarryman
Marcel Anselin	...	Bishop Gerbier
Yvette Lavogez	...	Marthe
Pierre D'Hoffelize	...	Havret
Corinne Bourdon	...	Child's Mother
Thierry Der'ven	...	Sabroux
Marie-Antoinette Lorge	...	Estelle

Also Known As:

Under the Sun of Satan (UK) (USA)
Under Satan's Sun

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15

Company:

Action Films

Movie Connections:

Featured in Les cent et une nuits de Simon Cinéma (1995)

Soundtrack:

Intermezzo from Symphony No.1

classic, enigmatic french movie

I saw the original french version and i must admit dialogues were challenging for me at times. On the background of early 1900's rural France, the movie revolves around the spiritual dilemma of a young priest ( what's the real meaning of service?) under the guidance of a dean, who soon starts to suspect his pupil might be sort of saint...a fool...or both. Pialat explores the thin line behind folly and sainthood. It's all a gray area where shades of gray detract from the meaning of both light & darkness. Overall, not a "viewer's" movie...little to see. Dialogues are difficult, and at times intricate; there are no conventional emotions, no plot spins. The "plot" is not really such one...there are subplots, such as a young girl with many lovers ( gets pregnant by one, has sex with another while dreaming of reaching Paris to become the mistress of a MP, etc )...there is another subplot about a dying child and peasants' devotion bordering superstition... i wanted to watch this because i wanted to watch another movie by Pialat...his style may not entertain everybody the same way, though.

Someone makes a point about Bonnaire being no "attractive" lass and here i have to agree ( she's not "ugly", yet not attractive as well). The point, however, is that (see the other Pialat's movie "à nos amours" where Bonnaire stars again ) that proves the director's dedication to portraying "real" people within reasonable circumstances, without Hollywood gimmicks and porn stars wanna-be's eager to show some skin ( i always think: skin is OK, but then got for true porn).

I can also guess translations & adaptations may have resulted in a mess.