Movie of the Week

Diary of a Country Priest (original French title: Journal d’un curé de campagne) is a 1951 French film directed by Robert Bresson, and starring Claude Laydu. It was closely based on the novel of the same name by Georges Bernanos. Published in 1937, the novel received the Grand prix du roman de l’Académie française. It tells the story of a young, sickly priest, who has just arrived in his first parish, a village in northern France. The novel has been translated to English by Pamela Morris and was published the same year as the French original. Two other French scriptwriters, Jean Aurenche and Pierre Bost had wanted to make film adaptations of the novel. Bernanos rejected Aurenche’s first draft, and by the time Bresson got around to the task, Bernanos had died. Bresson said he “would have taken more liberties” if Bernanos were still alive. Not the most cheerful film, but packs a spiritual punch!
(From Wikipedia)