Under the Sun of Satan (film)

Plot

Donissan (Gérard Depardieu) is a very zealous rural priest of the Catholic Church. The dean Menou-Segrais (Maurice Pialat) tries to keep him reasonable. But Donissan will be tempted by Satan, then will try to save the soul of Mouchette, a young girl who killed one of her lovers.

Cast

Production

The film is based on the 1926 novel Under the Sun of Satan by Georges Bernanos. It was the third time a novel by Bernanos was adapted for film. The two previous adaptations, Diary of a Country Priest (1951) and Mouchette (1967), had both been directed by Robert Bresson. Under the Sun of Satan was produced through Erato Films, Flach Films, Action Films and Les Films A2. Filming began on 20 October 1986 and took place in Fressin and Montreuil-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais.

Release

The film premiered on 14 May at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, where it was met by boos and whistles from the audience. It also played at the 1987 Toronto International Film Festival and New York Film Festival. It was released in French cinemas on 2 September 1987. The film had 815,748 admissions in France.

Critical response

Janet Maslin wrote in The New York Times in 1987:

"Though it deals with theology and rises to a stunning test of faith, Under Satan's Sun has a thoroughly secular style. That's one of the many things that make it fascinating. It's a work of great subtlety, some difficulty and tremendous assurance, one that demands and deserves close attention."

Nigel Floyd wrote in Time Out London:

"Pialat's ascetic meditation on faith, sainthood, and the nature of evil is a film of shattering intensity. ... Through the coldly-lit images and restrained flesh-and-blood performances, self-confessed atheist Pialat insists on the absolute reality of events, an approach which allows something intangible (spiritual?) to seep in at the edges of the frame. Despite the confusing cutting from scene to scene, the narrative's rigorous logic, the performances, and the stark visual beauty yield profound pleasures."

Accolades

The film won the Palme d'Or, the top prize for best film in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. It was the first time in 21 years that the Palme d'Or went to a French film; Claude Lelouch had last won it in 1966 for A Man and a Woman. Pialat was congratulated by France's president François Mitterrand, who wrote that Under the Sun of Satan "shows the vitality that can and should characterize French cinema". The film was nominated for the César Award for best film, director, actor (Depardieu), actress (Bonnaire), cinematography, editing and poster.

Home media

In 2013, the film was released as a Blue-Ray disk playable in all regions.