11 Movies Directed by Robert Bresson

Diary of a Country Priest

Diary of a Country Priest

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1954-04-05

Languages:

French

Countries:

France

Runtime:

95 min

Rated:

APPROVED

IMDB Ratings:

(6141 Reviews)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Genres:

Drama

Cast:

Writer:

Georges Bernanos (novel)

Robert Bresson

Fullplot:

In Ambricourt, an idealistic young Priest (Claude Laydu) arrives to be the local parish priest. He attempts to live a Christ-like life, but his actions are misunderstood. The community of the small town does not accept him, and although having a serious disease in the stomach, the inexperienced and frail priest tries to help the dwellers, and has a situation with the wealthy family of the location.

A Man Escaped

A Man Escaped

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1957-08-26

Languages:

French, German

Countries:

France

Runtime:

99 min

Rated:

NOT RATED

IMDB Ratings:

8.1 (10644 Reviews)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Cast:

Writer:

Robert Bresson (scenario and dialogue)

Andrè Devigny (memoir)

Fullplot:

French Resistance activist Andre Devigny is imprisoned by the Nazis, and devotes his waking hours to planning an elaborate escape. Then, on the same day, he is condemned to death, and given a new cellmate. Should he kill him, or risk revealing his plans to someone who may be a Gestapo informer?

Pickpocket

Pickpocket

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1959-12-16

Languages:

French

Countries:

France

Runtime:

75 min

Rated:

NOT RATED

IMDB Ratings:

7.9 (11981 Reviews)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Genres:

CrimeDrama

Fullplot:

Michel takes up picking pockets as a hobby, and is arrested almost immediately, giving him the chance to reflect on the morality of crime. After his release, though, his mother dies, and he rejects the support of friends Jeanne and Jacques in favour of returning to pickpocketing (after taking lessons from an expert), because he realises that it's the only way he can express himself...

The Trial of Joan of Arc

The Trial of Joan of Arc

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1963-03-15

Languages:

French, English

Countries:

France

Runtime:

65 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.6 (2736 Reviews)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Genres:

DramaHistory

Fullplot:

A reconstruction of the trial of Joan of Arc (based entirely on the transcripts of the real-life trial), concerning Joan's imprisonment, interrogation and final execution at the hands of the English, filmed in a spare, low-key fashion.

Au Hasard Balthazar

Au Hasard Balthazar

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1966-05-25

Languages:

French, Latin

Countries:

France, Sweden

Runtime:

95 min

Rated:

NOT RATED

IMDB Ratings:

7.9 (10418 Reviews)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Genres:

Drama

Fullplot:

This is the story of a donkey and the somewhat difficult life it leads. During a summer holiday, the baby donkey is a child's pet but when they return home, it begins it's life of misery. It works as a farm animal, pulling a delivery cart and working as any manner as various owners require of it. Meanwhile, the young girl who first acquired Balthazar as a pet grows up, only to be badly treated herself by an indifferent and selfish boyfriend.

Mouchette

Mouchette

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1970-03-12

Languages:

French

Countries:

France

Runtime:

78 min

Rated:

NOT RATED

IMDB Ratings:

7.8 (6291 Reviews)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Genres:

Drama

Cast:

Writer:

Georges Bernanos (novel)

Robert Bresson (scenario & adaptation and dialogue)

Fullplot:

Mouchette is a young girl living in the country. Her mother is dying and her father does not take care of her. Mouchette remains silent in the face of the humiliations she undergoes. One night in a wood, she meets Arsene, the village poacher, who thinks he has just killed the local policeman. He tries to use Mouchette to build an alibi.

A Gentle Woman

A Gentle Woman

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1971-05-27

Languages:

French

Countries:

France

Runtime:

88 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.8 (1313 Reviews)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Genres:

Drama

Cast:

Writer:

Fyodor Dostoevsky (from the short story by)

Fullplot:

A young woman kills herself, leaving no explanation to her grief-stricken pawnbroker husband. We learn in flashback about how they met, married, and how she failed to adapt her lifestyle to his. Disgusted with his attempts to dominate her, she considered murdering him, but found herself unable to do it...

Four Nights of a Dreamer

Four Nights of a Dreamer

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1972-02-02

Languages:

French

Countries:

France, Italy

Runtime:

87 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.7 (977 Reviews)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Genres:

DramaRomance

Cast:

Writer:

Robert Bresson

Fyodor Dostoevsky (short story "White Nights")

Fullplot:

The 'dreamer' is Jacques, a young painter, who by chance runs into Marthe as she's contemplating suicide on the Pont-Neuf in Paris. They talk, and agree to see each other again the next night. Gradually, he discovers that her lover promised to meet her on the bridge that night, and he failed to turn up. Over the next couple of nights, Jacques falls in love with her - but on the fourth night her original lover returns...

Lancelot of the Lake

Lancelot of the Lake

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1974-09-26

Languages:

French

Countries:

France, Italy

Runtime:

85 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.1 (2305 Reviews)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Fullplot:

A million miles away from 'Camelot' or 'Excalibur', this film ruthlessly strips the Arthurian legend down to its barest essentials. Arthur's knights, far from being heroic, are conniving and greedy men who, just before the film starts, have failed miserably to find the Holy Grail. Aimlessly resentful at first, the developing relationship between Lancelot and Queen Guinevere focuses their rage, leading to inevitable tragedy...

The Devil, Probably

The Devil, Probably

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1977-06-15

Languages:

French

Countries:

France

Runtime:

95 min

Rated:

NOT RATED

IMDB Ratings:

7.3 (1969 Reviews)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Genres:

Drama

Fullplot:

Charles drifts through politics, religion and psychoanalysis, rejecting them all. Once he realises the depth of his disgust with the moral and physical decline of the society he lives in, he decides that suicide is the only option...

L'argent

L'argent

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1983-05-18

Languages:

French, Latin

Countries:

France, Switzerland

Runtime:

85 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.6 (4771 Reviews)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Genres:

CrimeDrama

Cast:

Writer:

Robert Bresson

Leo Tolstoy (short story "Faux billet")

Fullplot:

A forged 500-franc note is cynically passed from person to person and shop to shop, until it falls into the hands of a genuine innocent who doesn't see it for what it is - which will have devastating consequences on his life, causing him to turn to crime and murder...

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