Diary of a Country Priest - Criterion Collection

Rating:
Summary: Great Film, bad transfer
Review: It is amazing to me that Criterion would realease such a landmark film of the French Cinema on DVD, in this condition. The transfer looks great, the only problem is that the film is loose in the gate, causing it to jump and move in and out of focus. This tends to subside a little as the film progresses, but was very dissapointing to an ardent Bresson fan, and will be to anyone who enjoys Bresson's classic "cinematography".

Rating:
Summary: Ehhhh
Review: This is far from Bresson's best work. In fact, after having read the book, I found this film a disappointment. While it is certainly worth watching, and is packed with atmosphere (the lead actor is phenomenal with what he is given, which isn't much) it seems like more of a chore than anything else. Bresson does not incorporate many of the most crucial scenes from Bernanno's novel, and the dialogue seems rushed and forced. This is more of an expressionist film than anything else, and I suppose Bresson figured that Laydu's facial movements would compensate for the lack of continuity in the film. The most memorable scenes take place with Laydu and the angry young girl, but even these scenes do not live up to the text. The ending of the novel, heart rendingly powerful, is trampled on: Bresson merely shows us a cross with some dialogue. "All is grace" does not have any touching quality here. This isn't a classic, but I would say it is mandatory to watch simply for Laydu's performance, which, while a little ambiguous in its wealth of emotion and suffering, is unforgettable. Rent it.

Rating:
Summary: Ehhhh
Review: This is far from Bresson's best work. In fact, after having read the book, I found this film a disappointment. While it is certainly worth watching, and is packed with atmosphere (the lead actor is phenomenal with what he is given, which isn't much) it seems like more of a chore than anything else. Bresson does not incorporate many of the most crucial scenes from Bernanno's novel, and the dialogue seems rushed and forced. This is more of an expressionist film than anything else, and I suppose Bresson figured that Laydu's facial movements would compensate for the lack of continuity in the film. The most memorable scenes take place with Laydu and the angry young girl, but even these scenes do not live up to the text. The ending of the novel, heart rendingly powerful, is trampled on: Bresson merely shows us a cross with some dialogue. "All is grace" does not have any touching quality here. This isn't a classic, but I would say it is mandatory to watch simply for Laydu's performance, which, while a little ambiguous in its wealth of emotion and suffering, is unforgettable. Rent it.

Rating:
Summary: a priest struggling with faith.
Review: This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

"Diary of a Country Priest" with the French title of "Journal d'un curé de campagne" is one that I found to be boring despite my religious background. It took me four tries to finish the film without falling asleep.

In this film a priest with health problems starts work at a church in rural France. Through his diary entries he reveals his crisis of faith and the way the villagers dislike him. He later befriends a priest in a neighboring village and learns that he has cancer.

The film does have some nice scenery of norther France but that is about it.

The special features on the DVD are a theatrical trailer, audio commentary by Peter Cowie, and the standard essay about the film in the liner notes.

This film is recommend for those interested in the topic or for insomniacs.

Rating:
Summary: Bresson's vision in daunting simplicity...
Review: Through the journaling of a young priest the audience can follow the priest's first assignment as he is managing the small parish Ambricourt, which is located on the French countryside. As swiftly as the priest arrives he is discouraged by the unfriendly atmosphere that surrounds him in the village. His discouragement leads him on a path of spiritual and cerebral suffering as he struggles with his faith in God and humanity. Besides the intellectual struggle the priest is suffering physically from an illness in his abdomen that has forced him on a rare diet based on old bread that he softens in sweetened wine. Unselfishly, the priest continues to face-up to the adversity of his environment as he clasps on to remains of his minuscule faith. Bresson's vision of the priest is visually stunning as the film emotionally draws the audience into a vortex of thoughts, feelings, and presence. In the process, Bresson communicates his philosophical message with daunting simplicity as he removes all the miscues that could distort his position. This leaves the viewer with an utterly brilliant cinematic experience as one can sense and reflect on Bresson's revelation of a country priest.

Rating:
Summary: Bresson's vision in daunting simplicity...
Review: Through the journaling of a young priest the audience can follow the priest's first assignment as he is managing the small parish Ambricourt, which is located on the French countryside. As swiftly as the priest arrives he is discouraged by the unfriendly atmosphere that surrounds him in the village. His discouragement leads him on a path of spiritual and cerebral suffering as he struggles with his faith in God and humanity. Besides the intellectual struggle the priest is suffering physically from an illness in his abdomen that has forced him on a rare diet based on old bread that he softens in sweetened wine. Unselfishly, the priest continues to face-up to the adversity of his environment as he clasps on to remains of his minuscule faith. Bresson's vision of the priest is visually stunning as the film emotionally draws the audience into a vortex of thoughts, feelings, and presence. In the process, Bresson communicates his philosophical message with daunting simplicity as he removes all the miscues that could distort his position. This leaves the viewer with an utterly brilliant cinematic experience as one can sense and reflect on Bresson's revelation of a country priest.