▍As the hometown of movies, France is full of talents, and Robert Bresson is one of them. Not only is he the person with the most fans in the history of French cinema, he is also known as the "most respected director in France" and Tarkovsky's idol. During World War II, Bresson spent a year in a concentration camp of the German Nazis. He was originally a painter and photographer. After he switched to directorship, his works have always been known as "small but fine", with aloof personality and simple style. The themes are mostly philosophical and Catholic thought.
▍To put it simply, Bresson’s films cover the following characteristics:
Minimalism , good at camera narration;
Pay attention to the literary nature of the film , and often use voice-overs, letters, diaries and other structural forms to reflect the textual value of the film (image writing);
Present the state of daily life with an alienated and objective attitude, and express philosophical issues within the framework of drama;
Great attention to sound details (in his own words: image and sound should be operated in a relay manner);
Use stories and pictures to replace exaggerated performances ("The true heart of human beings is invisible")
▍His first feature film "Angels of Sin" was completed in France under the background of German occupation. It tells the story of a nun trying to rescue a prostitute from the spirit. It can be seen as the "Diary of a Country Priest" to be introduced today. He was also dubbed the title of "Catholic Director" since then.
▍ "Country Teacher's Diary" is similar to "Sin Angel" in the content of the story. Both "Priest" and "Nun" tried their best to save others, and eventually they all went to death. "Diary of a Country Priest" continues the suppression of "Sin Angel", and establishes Bresson's film philosophy and filming method with undecorated pictures , pessimistic religious atmosphere and expressionless performance .
▍When the priest arrived in the village for the first time, he kept keeping a diary every day to record the ordinary bits and pieces. He has a serious stomach problem, does not eat meat and vegetables, wine with a lot of sugar, hard bread soaked in wine, and some fruits are a simple diet for him to keep his mind clear and strong. He was full of enthusiasm, but was hit by the loneliness and coldness in the village, and he began to deny and doubt himself constantly. He longed to be just like what Priest Tosi said: he hopes to be embraced and loved by the people, to be respected and obeyed by people, to keep order every day, but the reality is as pessimistic as described in his diary.
▍In the sermon class, Serafat, who claimed to like his pious, faithful and charming eyes, was very unkind to him even though the priest had high expectations of him. Louis, the tutor of the earl’s family, was the one who came to the mass every day. He hid his face and wept because of the humiliation of the earl’s daughter, but he was helpless. The old Fabrigas refused to spend money for his wife's funeral, but hoped that the priest would give his dead wife a decent burial. The old doctor Dale Bend, who treated him, died in the woods. "God is the fair judge, and we will struggle to face it after all" seems to herald the situation that the young pastor will face. He wanted to use the earl's influence and money to form youth clubs and sports games, but this wish was repeatedly delayed by the earl. People in the village are shallow, utilitarian, and no one cares about whether their souls are saved, which makes the pastor feel futile, confused and helpless.
▍Fortunately, the countess was the only one who was relieved by the young priest. She was immersed in the pain of bereavement, and she was indifferent to her daughter's rebellion and husband's infidelity, but her unprecedented peace was exchanged for death. Death is a difficult thing, especially for the sake of dignity. After years of dealing with ungodly people and being unreasonably humiliated, what is the point of working hard and fighting hard? We did not invent love. God is love. There are its own rules in the world of love. God's world is the world we live in. If God is a philosopher or a pagan, will our misery let him down? Everyone is influencing others. If there is a corner of the world that God cannot control, even if there is a death threat every minute, the countess will still take her son there without hesitation, in this "blessing" In the dialogue with "transcendence", the giver gives the giver what he does not have . This is a funny thing.
▍In this boring, rigid and lifeless village, young pastors have simple demands, seek health and spiritual balance, receive the sacrament and the grace of Christ, and use mercy and love to influence the people and become a party The leader of the parish. However, the simplest things are often the most difficult, being as strict and critical of oneself as a wasp in a bottle, saving the souls of others has become a way to seek self-salvation, which eventually leads to self-closing, and the preacher’s own confusion and pain pass Death comes to an end. One soul waits, hesitates, and despairs; another soul discovers, approaches, and saves. From this desperate atmosphere, we can learn that the director Cartier-Bresson ’s thoughts and explorations on philosophical propositions such as the severance of human communication in modern society , the value of self, the essence of life, and the meaningless cycle.
▍Too many people’s hearts are worn out by reality . Perhaps as the countess said, this is an inevitable reaction after a long period of humiliation and disappointment, a way to protect oneself, but because of this sophisticated cocoon , So that there is a distance that can no longer be touched between myself and "love". Some people are too pragmatic, just like the villager who doesn’t want to organize a funeral for his wife. He lives a rich life, but he doesn’t want to pay more for it. His affection for his wife and respect for the deceased are put under money; some are Courage dries up after a long period of wear and tear, and completely gives up and retreats from the helpless life, just like a doctor; some people are swept away by malice and indifference, the surrounding "evil" evokes the evil in the heart, and finally becomes himself Allies and hostile people are like the earl and his daughter. Pain can destroy a person, and can also breed a noble and pure soul , because deep pain is always connected with deep love and deep compassion. Perhaps faith only gives mankind an opportunity to become holy. Endless time and endless sin will eventually be destroyed together, and only those holy souls can be saved. Like Dostoevsky, Bresson believed that "pain may become an atonement for injustice or even crime, if one is truly willing to accept pain." Prison and freedom, love and faith, film It's his pastor's diary.
"Your audience is neither a book reader nor a theater audience, nor is it a spectator of an exhibition, nor a concert audience. You do not need to satisfy the literary taste, nor the drama, nor the characteristics of painting or the audience. Satisfy the characteristics of music."-Bresson, "Film Writing Notes"
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