Léon Morin, Priest (1961)
Léon Morin, Priest (1961) is a French drama film helmed by director Jean-Pierre Melville. The story is based on Béatrix Beck’s award-winning novel The Passionate Heart. Set during the Occupation of France, the film follows Barny, a single mother residing in a small town in the French Alps with her daughter France. To make ends meet, Barny works as an assignment corrector for a Parisian correspondence school that has relocated to their town. Grief-stricken by the loss of her Jewish husband in the war and lacking sexual satisfaction, she finds herself drawn to Sabine, an administrative secretary at her workplace. Despite being a former Catholic turned atheist and communist activist, Barny reluctantly agrees with some of her friends to have their children baptized as a means of protecting them from the occupying troops. Later on, she enters a church impulsively and pretends to confess.
Curious about religion and seeking amusement, she chooses to confide in Léon Morin, a young priest who piques her interest with his unconventional name and lack of bourgeoisie appearance. In the confessional, she tries to provoke Léon by questioning and disapproving of Catholicism. However, instead of taking offense, he calmly engages her in a theological discussion. The generous priest offers to lend her some books and they set a time to meet. Leaving the church, Barny is in a daze. As a way to protect France, she sends the girl to live on a secluded farm. She starts visiting Léon regularly and admires his moral strength and unwavering faith as he guides her on her spiritual path. Despite initially resisting, Barny gradually becomes captivated by Léon’s thoughts, perspectives, and interpretations of scripture.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
| Cast: |
Jean-Paul Belmondo
Emmanuelle Riva
Irène TuncLéon Morin, Priest (1961) is a French drama film helmed by director Jean-Pierre Melville. The story is based on Béatrix Beck’s award-winning novel The Passionate Heart. Set during the Occupation of France, the film follows Barny, a single mother residing in a small town in the French Alps with her daughter France. To make ends meet, Barny works as an assignment corrector for a Parisian correspondence school that has relocated to their town. Grief-stricken by the loss of her Jewish husband in the war and lacking sexual satisfaction, she finds herself drawn to Sabine, an administrative secretary at her workplace. Despite being a former Catholic turned atheist and communist activist, Barny reluctantly agrees with some of her friends to have their children baptized as a means of protecting them from the occupying troops. Later on, she enters a church impulsively and pretends to confess.
Curious about religion and seeking amusement, she chooses to confide in Léon Morin, a young priest who piques her interest with his unconventional name and lack of bourgeoisie appearance. In the confessional, she tries to provoke Léon by questioning and disapproving of Catholicism. However, instead of taking offense, he calmly engages her in a theological discussion. The generous priest offers to lend her some books and they set a time to meet. Leaving the church, Barny is in a daze. As a way to protect France, she sends the girl to live on a secluded farm. She starts visiting Léon regularly and admires his moral strength and unwavering faith as he guides her on her spiritual path. Despite initially resisting, Barny gradually becomes captivated by Léon’s thoughts, perspectives, and interpretations of scripture.
