Diary of a Country Priest, based on the novel
by Georges Bernanos
A different
version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
Le Journal
d’un Curé de Campagne has striking similarities with Sous Le Soleil de Satan.
When
searching for reasons, I found that both are based on novels by the same
genius:
-
Georges Bernanos
And they
are both chef d’oeuvres.
The New
York Times Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made list includes Diary of a Country Priest:
Claude
Laydu is excellent as the Priest of Ambricourt.
Le Curé is
a strange, outré, outlandish character.
He seems to
have the calling for his mission.
And yet he
is not liked.
The local
aristocrat, the count disapproves of him.
And so does
the older priest of Torcy, a nearby village.
So the
Country Priest has to face this “opposition „and a disease that torments him.
His stomach
is causing pain.
The diet
that the poor young man chooses does not help.
He seems to
think that wine and bread are about the only things his stomach would tolerate.
But it is a
very poor choice- I used to have ulcers and know that you cannot treat a
stomach illness with that.
His health
is deteriorating.
But the Country
Priest is a saintly figure:
-
Le Curé is a dedicated man who wants
to live a life similar to the one of Christ
-
He is good, peaceful and tries to
help
-
When talking to the rich woman of
the village, he gives her the word of God
A modest
man, this Country Priest is the role model and I would say the epitome of what
a priest should be.
Alas, the
ones I have met are the exact opposite:
-
Greedy, vultures waiting in
cemeteries to charge huge prices for services they can hardly render
-
When my father died, the custom
required all sorts of services and “pomeni” at the cemetery and church
-
The city priests that I had to pay-
exorbitant prices- were more like mobsters and hustlers than men of the church
and could hardly speak, never mind sing the liturgy or anything for that matter
The Country
Priest makes even a hardened atheist like the undersigned think about the Word
of the Bible.
Le Curé is
a haunted man.
He seems to
have managed to transcend and find Absolution.
The Country
Priest has shortcomings, but his modesty prevents him from pronouncing final
judgments on people.
Indeed, he
offers understanding and compassion, even when faced with ruthless and
inexplicable aggression.
A teenager
comes to him talking about murderous desires and plans to kill a close relative
that she hates.
The Country
Priest invites her to the confession booth, because such terrible statements
are not to be pronounced in church.
This is not
a cut and dried story.
When Le Curé
tries to give solace and give the word of God to the rich woman of the village,
the effect is devastating.
It made me
think of The Psychological Effects of Religion as explained by Nathaniel
Branden, who says that they are all…negative.
Exceptional
film!!
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