Les anges du péché (1943)

Rich young Anne-Marie thinks she has found her vocation when she joins a Dominican convent as a novice. The convent specialises in rehabilitating female prisoners, and Anne-Marie becomes ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Bresson

Writers:

Robert Bresson (scenario), Raymond Leopold Bruckberger (scenario) (as R.L. Bruckberger 'dominicain')

Stars:

Renée Faure, Jany Holt, Sylvie

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Renée Faure	...	Anne-Marie Lamaury
Jany Holt	...	Thérèse
Sylvie	...	La prieure
Mila Parély	...	Madeleine
Marie-Hélène Dasté	...	Mère Saint-Jean
Yolande Laffon	...	Madame Lamaury
Paula Dehelly	...	Mère Dominique
Silvia Monfort	...	Agnès
Gilberte Terbois	...	Soeur Marie-Josèphe
Louis Seigner	...	Le directeur de la prison
Georges Colin	...	Le chef de la P.J.
Geneviève Morel	...	Soeur Berthe
Christiane Barry	...	Soeur Blaise
Jean Morel	...	L'inspecteur de police
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jacqueline Champi	...	Une religieuse

Storyline

Rich young Anne-Marie thinks she has found her vocation when she joins a Dominican convent as a novice. The convent specialises in rehabilitating female prisoners, and Anne-Marie becomes especially fascinated with Therese, trying to get her to join the convent to redeem her for her sins - but Therese protests her innocence. However, when released, Therese shoots the man who committed the crime for which she was imprisoned, then joins the convent, where she is reluctant to tell anyone her secret, least of all Anne-Marie. Meanwhile, outside the convent, a police search is widening...

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Plot Keywords:

convent | police | novice | burning photograph | burning letter | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

16 January 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

A bűn angyalai

Company Credits

Production Co:

Synops

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First feature film directed by Robert Bresson.

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Connections

Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Une vague nouvelle (1999)

User Reviews

1st full-length feature by the self-described Christian-atheist Bresson...

1st full-length feature by the self-described Christian-atheist, it was made in occupied France after Bresson had done a year in a prison camp.

There's nothing ostentatious i his style. It's sparse, no flashy camera-acrobatics or editing tricks. I always feel the best directors are those whose work you hardly notice.

The story is set in a convent, Sisters of Bethany, it's purpose is to help women in prison rehabilitate. In it we find Anne-Marie, a somewhat proud & middle-class woman who comes to logger-heads w/Mother Superior & this leads to problems. Along the way she connects w/one of the more recalcitrant prisoners & recognizes her pain & need to be reached out to. Upon release the prisoner returns to join the convent under suspicious circumstances.

What we have is a contrast in characters who come to the convent for different reasons & an exploration into spiritual matters. Well worth watching...