By 1967, in his already 24 years long career as film director, French cineaste Robert Bresson has only shot seven feature-length movies. Nevertheless, he's been already regarded as a groundbreaking filmmaker. Small in volume, yet of great importance, his oeuvre has gained interest throughout the film world, especially among film critics.
For his 8th film, protestant Bresson has chosen another novel by catholic Georges Bernanos, whose Diary of a Country Priest he had turned into a film in 1950. Film is based on the story of Mouchette, a 14-year-old girl who was driven to her tragic end by the lack of love from adults she knew. "Distraught by the lack of understanding shown by her father, a petty smuggler who is almost always drunk, and upset by the silent suffering of her mother, Mouchette - in silent, stubborn anger - refuses any kind of guidance. Her fellow pupils avoid her, and her teacher mistakes her for being willful and stubborn. Thus Mouchette fails to find the love she yearns for, and a poacher whom she hesitantly trusts, eventually rapes her."
Summarised in a few words it may sound like a shocking story, but for Robert Bresson it's just a new starting point to reflect the limits of human dignity.
For his 8th film, protestant Bresson has chosen another novel by catholic Georges Bernanos, whose Diary of a Country Priest he had turned into a film in 1950. Film is based on the story of Mouchette, a 14-year-old girl who was driven to her tragic end by the lack of love from adults she knew. "Distraught by the lack of understanding shown by her father, a petty smuggler who is almost always drunk, and upset by the silent suffering of her mother, Mouchette - in silent, stubborn anger - refuses any kind of guidance. Her fellow pupils avoid her, and her teacher mistakes her for being willful and stubborn. Thus Mouchette fails to find the love she yearns for, and a poacher whom she hesitantly trusts, eventually rapes her."
Summarised in a few words it may sound like a shocking story, but for Robert Bresson it's just a new starting point to reflect the limits of human dignity.