Film Reviews by CD

Like so many Italian films this is a beautiful and deeply moving depiction of a community, we are slowly drawn into the joys and sorrows of several peasant families in an understated way which makes the denouement all the more heart rending.

I had high expectations of this, based on Depardieu's brilliant acting in Danton, Jean de Florette and Les Miserables, and the pathos of Bresson's Dairy of a Country Priest (also based on a Bernanos novel). I found the plot hard to follow, especially the scenes with Mouchette who was totally unconvincing. Although I do believe men can create convincing and moving female protagonists (Anna Karenina and Tess spring to mind) this seemed to be a male director's fantasy of a teenage nympho with no psychological insight. Sandrine Bonnaire seems to be of the 'let your face do the talking school of acting' with an interesting French 'jolie laide' face which did not in this film make up for her lack of acting skills. I dread to think what A nos Amours is like, but not sure I can be bothered to waste my time finding out. The scenes with Satan were the only redeeming features of the film (to excuse the pun). I can now see why this film completely passed me by on it's release, despite being an avid Depardieu/French film fan.