Dieu a besoin des hommes (1950)

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.

Director:

Jean Delannoy

Writers:

Jean Aurenche, Pierre Bost

Stars:

Pierre Fresnay, Madeleine Robinson, Daniel Gélin

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Pierre Fresnay	...	Thomas Gourvennec
Madeleine Robinson	...	Jeanne Gourvennec
Daniel Gélin	...	Joseph le Berre
Andrée Clément	...	Scholastique Kerneis
Jean Brochard	...	L'abbé Kerhervé, le recteur de Lescoff
Sylvie	...	Coise Karbacen
Antoine Balpêtré	...	Le père Gourvennec, un pêcheur
Jean d'Yd	...	Corentin Gourvennec
Germaine Kerjean	...	Mme. Kerneis
Marcel Delaître	...	M. Kerneis
Daniel Ivernel	...	François Guillen
Jean-Pierre Mocky	...	Pierre
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Louise Andrès
Lucienne Bogaert	...	Anaïs Le Berre
Charles Bouillaud	...	Le gendarme

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

sun | island | catholic priest | based on novel | surprise ending | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

4 October 1950 (France)

Also Known As:

God Needs Men

Filming Locations:

Plouguerneau, Finistère, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Transcontinental Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Venice Film Festival organizers refused to screen the movie because it could have offended the Roman Catholics. They changed there decision and showed the movie with no offenses from Catholics. It then took home an award.

User Reviews

God needs men,and Delannoy needs to be restored to favor.

Shall I tell once again that the new wave,by putting former talents down,was not always the holy writ?

Once again, a movie crying to be seen!The story is absolutely original and even a risqué one for 1950: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 (Pierre Fresnay)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.

The movie can be interpreted as a critic of the bourgeois,organized religion,a return to the pristine, primitive faith of the first Christ followers.The OCIC (international catholic cinema office)made no mistake when they awarded Delannoy's movie their prize in Venice. Sometimes the irony and the fierceness of the lines do not fit well with Delannoy's conventional(not meant pejoratively)directing.I would go as far to say that some scenes recall ...Bunuel.But there's a crucial difference:Delannoy's faith cannot be denied:he preaches a religion which would come from the heart,whereas for the Spanish director,religion is a nuisance to live with at home.Far from being a blasphemy,the funeral without a priest becomes a communion with God,the sea being the mediator.The pictures of the boats sailing away from the so-called civilized Christian world are admirable.

There's an impressive cast apart from Fresnay:Madeleine Robinson,Sylvie,Daniel Gélin,Germaine Kerjean,Daniel Ivernel and more.Actually,they should speak the Breton language (which a non-Breton French cannot understand at all),but,as it would take subtitles, all the actors use a very pronounced accent,which makes their renderings convincing.One can sometimes regret a theatrical side,but it's a minor flaw.

Nowadays in France,Jean Delannoy 's work is ignored or despised.Turn your back on the official criticism and watch this movie.You will not regret it.