Filmed during WWII, Robert Bresson’s first feature was shot entirely at night. Establishing a precedent that he would follow in his later films, Bresson utilises non-professionals in the leading roles. Rich young Anne-Marie thinks she has found her vocation when she joins a Dominican convent as a novice. The convent specialises in rehabilitating female prisoners, and Anne-Marie becomes especially fascinated with Therese, trying to get her to join the convent to redeem her for her sins - but Therese protests her innocence and refuses the offer. Upon her release, Therese kills her lover, and seeks refuge from the police in Anne-Marie’s convent. Further reading: Paul Schrader, “Transcendental Style in Film : Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer”, DaCapo, 1988. Further reading: Film Comment. ‘Special Bresson’. May/June and July 1999
Credits: Producers, Dominique Drouin, Roland Tual ; director, Robert Bresson ; writers, Jean Giraudoux, (Rev. Pere) Raymond Leopold Bruckberger, Robert Bresson ; photography, Philippe Agostini ; music, Jean-Jacques Grunenwald.
Cast: Renee Faure, Jany Holt, Sylvie, Marie-Helene Daste, Silvia Monfort, Mila Parely, Louis Seigner.
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
X000371
Languages
English
French
Subject category
Foreign language films
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Black and White
Holdings
16mm film; Limited Access Print (Section 2)