Journal D'Un Cure De Campagne

Robert Bresson - 1951 , again
Watching from a less technical perspective, this film really knocked me down. What struck me was its simplicity, partly that means how the formal elements (the lack of establishing shots most obviously) really aren't obtrusive at all; the innovation doesn't seem to be for its own sake. I should also note that I didn't see much of the slightly high angle I mentioned in 'Les Dames Du Bois De Boulogne'.
The great rythm of the film also was more obvious. How Bresson pushes us up, then that long central scene with the countess. From then on he calms us down, before suddenly throwing us unto infinity; the motorcycle scene as a magical burst of freshness, the mixture of a slight pathos and of a preperation for that word; grace; when his illness is found out.
What also struck was how gloomy, and rather self-important the priest is. This added to the humour, especially early on. He really seems like a rather pretentious soul; we agree with the canon telling him to stop being absurd. The film is his film, and thus takes some of this tone. But the priest isn't a hero in any conventional sense. All of Bresson's central figures are not examples, but are living, breathing people, who we may well not like, and confound attempts at generalisations about the 'human condition'.