FILM-FORWARD.COMReviews of Recent Independent, Foreign, & Documentary Films in Theaters and DVD/Home Video
DIARY OF A COUNTRY PRIEST
Diary of a Country Priest, with little dialogue and music, explores the downfall of a man
ostracized from society. The story line follows an inexperienced priest who, upon his arrival at a
rural French parish, faces a spiritual crisis when the town refuses to accept him. The decline of
the priest is illustrated through his diary entries and his relationships with the townspeople, yet
the characters of the congregation are merely obstacles for the priest's plight and are not really
given much attention as individual characters. Given the plot and Bresson's stark yet meaningful
camerawork - in which long shots of the priest enhance his feelings of isolation - an allegory of
the journey of Jesus himself is hard to miss, and is an interesting concept to keep in mind when
viewing. While one can appreciate the film's cinematic quality and beauty, Diary isn't the kind of film
to watch for pure entertainment. This is perhaps due to the complexities of adapting an interior
plot line to screen (the familiar metaphor of physical ailments for the priest’s spiritual decline is
somewhat clichéd). Although thought provoking, this film is not as compelling as, say, Bresson’s
L’Argent (1983). Claude Laydu, however, gives a believable performance as an
undoubtedly troubled man, and his somber and deliberate movements reflect his internal
struggle. DVD Extras: In his commentary, historian Peter Cowie fills a lot of holes
left open for interpretation by Bresson, reading from the original text of Bernanos' novel to
clarify a few scenes . He also comments on the religious context of the film, noting that Bresson
is not so much a religious activist as he is a gifted director. Many of the poignant and scattered
sound effects are explained in metaphorical context, intermingled with biographical information
on Bresson. Cowie also discusses such components as set design and construction of the duke's
chateau, in addition to how the actors prepared for their roles. Lisette Johnson
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