Journal d'un curé de campagne (Robert Bresson, 1951) aka Diary of a Country Priest; Claude Laydu
I continue to struggle with the alleged high quality of Bresson's films. Apparently this is the most highly regarded of them, although near the beginning of the thirteen-feature-film career of his 100-year life.
I seriously think you have to give a fuck about the subject-matter – which is something about belief in God – to take an interest in this tedious shit. I don't.
So what I see is a scene typically consisting of only 1-4 shots, a fade to black, then another. The camera barely moves, when it does; the actors barely act, when they do (they were directed not to!)
It's minimalist, which can be a very good thing, but only if there's something profound to be seen. Nothing to see here. Move along.
Garry Gillard | New: 16 December, 2023 | Now: 16 December, 2023