Capturing the Real: Four by Robert Bresson
Film Series
Diary of a Country Priest by Robert Bresson (1951)
French filmmaker Robert Bresson is the focus of a special mini-series at Doc Films. Programmed by Vaughn Jarvi, this series showcases four of Bresson’s films, including three lesser-seen works, offering a rare opportunity to experience his search of “the real” on the big screen while highlighting the diversity of his work.
Throughout a career that extended over fifty years, Robert Bresson created one of the most distinctive filmographies in cinema. From his earliest projects, he established himself as a film theorist. His films explore the suffering of characters within a fractured world, yet they are never devoid of hope; they seek life and grace amid darkness.
This series presented by Doc Films offers a chance to appreciate Bresson in all his complexity: as a director who relied on non-actors while describing his films as primarily “about feelings and action,” or as a creator of remarkable formal precision who considered improvisation essential. In the four films featured, we see his approach extended to a variety of subjects. While Bresson’s films may be characterized as minimalist, it is these quietly beautiful works that allow us to perceive his care and conviction in rich detail.
Featured Films:
Une femme douce (1969)
Robert Bresson · 88m · DCP
This adaptation of Dostoevsky begins with the suicide of Elle, the titular “gentle woman,” and explores her troubled relationship with her husband through flashbacks.
Thursday, October 3rd, 7:00 PM · Sunday, October 6th, 4:00 PM
Diary of a Country Priest (1951)
Robert Bresson · 115m · DCP
Following the struggles of a young Catholic priest (Claude Laydu) in a rural parish, this film delves into themes of faith, isolation, and the search for divine grace.
Thursday, October 10th, 7:00 PM · Saturday, October 12th, 4:00 PM
Lancelot du Lac (1974)
Robert Bresson · 85m · 35mm
In this medieval tale, Bresson examines the tragic consequences of love and loyalty within the context of a fragmented Arthurian kingdom. Presented courtesy of the Institut français.
Thursday, October 17th, 7:00 PM · Saturday, October 19th, 7:30 PM
The Devil, Probably (1977)
Robert Bresson · 97m · 35mm
This film investigates existential despair and societal issues through the lens of a young man’s unexplained death, intertwining personal tragedy with broader themes of politics and ecology.
Thursday, October 24th, 7:00 PM · Saturday, October 26th, 4:00 PM
The series is supported by the France-Chicago Center and Villa Albertine Chicago
In partnership with
France Chicago Center
The France Chicago Center (FCC) is a University of Chicago-based interdisciplinary organization with a two-fold mission of: (1) facilitating, promoting, and fostering stronger ties between University of Chicago students and researchers and their colleagues in France, and (2) increasing awareness within the University of Chicago community of French culture, art, and thought. To this end, FCC sponsors a range of programs including conferences, workshops, public lectures, visiting professors, fellowships, travel grants & fellowships, exchange programs and various cultural, scientific, and outreach activities.