Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Pierre Fresnay | ... | Thomas Gourvennec | |
Madeleine Robinson | ... | Jeanne Gourvennec | |
Daniel Gélin | ... | Joseph le Berre (as Daniel Gelin) | |
Sylvie | ... | Coise Karbacen | |
Antoine Balpêtré | ... | Le père Gourvennec, un pêcheur (as Antoine Balpetre) | |
Germaine Kerjean | ... | Mme. Kerneis | |
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Jean d'Yd | ... | Corentin Gourvennec |
Daniel Ivernel | ... | François Guillen | |
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Raphaël Patorni | ... | Jules (as Raphael Patorni) |
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Marcel Delaître | ... | M. Kerneis (as Marcel Delaitre) |
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Fernand René | ... | Yves Lannuzel (as Fernand-Rene) |
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Albert Michel | ... | Le Bail |
Jean-Pierre Mocky | ... | Pierre | |
René Génin | ... | Le père d'Yvon | |
Jean Carmet | ... | Yvon |
The island of Sein,in the nineteenth century,in Brittany.A crude population lives here,on these windy shores ,estranged from the rest of the world.No priest comes here anymore,because they are sinners,wreckers.So the sacristan will act as a priest.The inhabitants from the island do need religion,even if theirs is close to superstition.And they do believe in their new officiant,even if the latter does not dare to do everything a priest does(the sacraments).But little by little ,he would ,were it not for the coming of a true religious figure,escorted by - gendarmes. Written by dbdumonteil
Henri Queffelec was a 'catholic' novelist who wrote extensively of the sea and of his native Brittany. 'The Rector of the Isle of Sein' has here been adapted by Pierre Bost and Jean Aurenche and directed by Jean Delannoy. Everything about this film is bleak in terms of setting, subject matter and the harsh lives of the protagonists. What makes it bearable is the performances. Here we have another courageous and uncompromising portrayal by Pierre Fresnay as the Sacristan who takes over the running of the church once the villagers have been deserted by their distinctly non-compassionate Rector, played by Jean Brochard. Excellent performances also from Daniel Gelin, Madeleine Robinson, Germaine Kerjean and the utterly mesmerising Andree Clement so tragically taken by tuberculosis in her thirties. Although directed and performed with the utmost conviction this grim, doom-laden and strangely Godless film is completely devoid of hope and will no doubt continue to languish in obscurity.