Robert Bresson is celebrated as one of the greatest directors of the twentieth century, yet his films remain largely unknown in the English-speaking world. Susan Sontag referred to him as "the master of the reflective mode in film." This book introduces Bresson's work to a wider audience by examining thirteen key films through detailed plot summaries, vivid character and setting descriptions, and insightful, accessible analysis of his execution, intention, and technique. The films, spanning from 1943 to 1983, include Diary of a Country Priest, A Man Escaped, Pickpocket, The Trial of Joan of Arc, Au Hasard Balthasar, Mouchette, A Gentle Woman, Lancelot of the Lake, and L'Argent. Each film exemplifies what Joseph Cunneen describes as Bresson's "spiritual style," emphasizing two principles: the rejection of "photographed theater" with its artificiality and reliance on celebrity, and the belief that "the supernatural is only the real rendered more precise." Bresson's commitment to these principles often hindered his ability to secure funding, preventing him from realizing his dream of adapting the biblical book of Genesis. Martin Scorsese encouraged young filmmakers to reflect on Bresson’s approach, prompting questions about the depth and directness of meaning in their own work—questions that resonate with both readers and viewers of Bresson’s films.
Joseph E. Cunneen Livres
