Bresson's visions
L'Argent (1983) is the last film of Robert Bresson (1901 - 1999). In its austerity, it is typical of all the films of his maturity.
He based it on The Forged Note, a short story by Tolstoy.
One deceitful act, the passing on of a forged high-denomination note, leads into a spiral of immorality: first, a false testimony against an innocent man, then robbery, tragedy and murder.
Bresson's storytelling refuses us direct access to his characters' minds. He always cast "models" (as he called his amateur players) rather than actors, because professional performances would not have given him the inscrutable effect he required.
Instead, Bresson's camera scrutinises only the actions of his characters. These are shown with the clarity of an information film showing how to operate machinery.
Bresson's economy of means and power of storytelling set him apart from other major directors, who can look lazy and thoughtless in comparison. There is something self-denying in Bresson's approach, as if he is fasting himself so that he can receive religious visions.
He based it on The Forged Note, a short story by Tolstoy.
One deceitful act, the passing on of a forged high-denomination note, leads into a spiral of immorality: first, a false testimony against an innocent man, then robbery, tragedy and murder.
Bresson's storytelling refuses us direct access to his characters' minds. He always cast "models" (as he called his amateur players) rather than actors, because professional performances would not have given him the inscrutable effect he required.
Instead, Bresson's camera scrutinises only the actions of his characters. These are shown with the clarity of an information film showing how to operate machinery.
Bresson's economy of means and power of storytelling set him apart from other major directors, who can look lazy and thoughtless in comparison. There is something self-denying in Bresson's approach, as if he is fasting himself so that he can receive religious visions.
posted by Peter at 09:30
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