Sous le soleil de Satan (1987)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Maurice Pialat

Writers:

Georges Bernanos (novel)
Sylvie Danton (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

10 February 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Dossignan is a very zealous rural priest. The dean Menou-Segrais tries to keep him reasonable. But Dossignan will be tempted by Satan...

Plot Keywords:

Satan | Priest | Rural | Devil | Confessional

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Gérard Depardieu	...	Donissan
Sandrine Bonnaire	...	Mouchette
Maurice Pialat	...	Menou-Segrais
Alain Artur	...	Cadignan
Yann Dedet	...	Gallet
Brigitte Legendre	...	Mouchette's Mother
Jean-Claude Bourlat	...	Malorthy
Jean-Christophe Bouvet	...	Horse Dealer
Philippe Pallut	...	Quarryman
Marcel Anselin	...	Bishop Gerbier
Yvette Lavogez	...	Marthe
Pierre D'Hoffelize	...	Havret
Corinne Bourdon	...	Child's Mother
Thierry Der'ven	...	Sabroux
Marie-Antoinette Lorge	...	Estelle
Bernard De Gouy	...	M. de Vamin
Yolene De Gouy	...	Mme de Vanin
Claudine Gauthier	...	Believer
Thierry Artur	...	Priest
Ghislain Boitrelle	...	Coachman
Raymonde Jacquot	...	Parishioner
Frédéric Auburtin	...	Young Priest
Edith Colnel	...	Mme Lambelin
Delphine Westrelin	...	Farm Hand
Vincent Peignaux	...	Child
Françoise Disle	...	Sinner
Fabienne Deleforge	...	Child of Mary
Yolaine De Gelas	...	Child of Mary
Anne Duquennoy	...	Child of Mary
Karine Lambert	...	Child of Mary
Carole Loth	...	Child of Mary
Nathalie Lourtil	...	Child of Mary
Sabrina Vervacke	...	Child of Mary
Marie-Paule Vienne	...	Pilgrim
Claudy Widczinski	...	Pilgrim
Anne Cassagnou	...	Pilgrim
Guillaume Dhoye	...	Pilgrim
Jérôme Dhoye	...	Pilgrim
Franck Dhoye	...	Pilgrim
David Dhoye	...	Pilgrim

Directed by
Maurice Pialat

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Georges Bernanos		novel "Sous le soleil de Satan"
Sylvie Danton		writer
Maurice Pialat		writer

Produced by
Claude Abeille	....	executive producer
Daniel Toscan du Plantier	....	delegate producer

Original Music by
Henri Dutilleux

Cinematography by
Willy Kurant

Film Editing by
Yann Dedet

Production Design by
Katia Wyszkop		(as Katia Vischkof)

Set Decoration by
Gérard Marcireau
Katia Wyszkop		(as Katia Vischkof)

Costume Design by
Gil Noir

Makeup Department
Jean-Pierre Berroyer	....	hair stylist
Thi-Loan Nguyen	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jean-Claude Bourlat	....	production manager
Edith Colnel	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jean-Paul Allegre	....	second assistant director
Frédéric Auburtin	....	second assistant director
Didier Creste	....	assistant director

Art Department
Gérard Marcireau	....	assistant set decorator

Sound Department
Valérie Condroyer	....	sound editor
Louis Gimel	....	sound
François Groult	....	sound mixer
Dominique Hennequin	....	sound mixer
Jérôme Lévy	....	foley artist
Maryline Monthieux	....	assistant sound editor (as Marilyn Monthieux)
Jérôme Thiault	....	assistant sound editor
Jérôme Thiault	....	boom operator

Camera and Electrical Department
Gilles Henry	....	first assistant camera
Jacques Loiseleux	....	assistant camera
Hiromi Rollin	....	second assistant camera

Casting Department
Cyril Collard	....	casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kirsten Morin	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Nathalie Letrosne-wormse	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Danielle Dumanoir	....	production secretary
Brigitte Hedou	....	script supervisor
Catherine Staub	....	production administrator

Production Companies

• Action Films
• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)
• Erato Films
• Erbograph Co.
• Films A2
• Flach Film
• Investimage
• Sofica Créations

Distributors

• Alive Films (1989) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Connoisseur Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Prodimag (2007) (Spain) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Alvorada Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (Czech Republic)

Also Known As:

Under Satan's Sun
Under the Sun of Satan

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15

Company:

Action Films

Movie Connections:

Featured in Les cent et une nuits de Simon Cinéma (1995)

Soundtrack:

Intermezzo from Symphony No.1

classic, enigmatic french movie

I saw the original french version and i must admit dialogues were challenging for me at times. On the background of early 1900's rural France, the movie revolves around the spiritual dilemma of a young priest ( what's the real meaning of service?) under the guidance of a dean, who soon starts to suspect his pupil might be sort of saint...a fool...or both. Pialat explores the thin line behind folly and sainthood. It's all a gray area where shades of gray detract from the meaning of both light & darkness. Overall, not a "viewer's" movie...little to see. Dialogues are difficult, and at times intricate; there are no conventional emotions, no plot spins. The "plot" is not really such one...there are subplots, such as a young girl with many lovers ( gets pregnant by one, has sex with another while dreaming of reaching Paris to become the mistress of a MP, etc )...there is another subplot about a dying child and peasants' devotion bordering superstition... i wanted to watch this because i wanted to watch another movie by Pialat...his style may not entertain everybody the same way, though.

Someone makes a point about Bonnaire being no "attractive" lass and here i have to agree ( she's not "ugly", yet not attractive as well). The point, however, is that (see the other Pialat's movie "à nos amours" where Bonnaire stars again ) that proves the director's dedication to portraying "real" people within reasonable circumstances, without Hollywood gimmicks and porn stars wanna-be's eager to show some skin ( i always think: skin is OK, but then got for true porn).

I can also guess translations & adaptations may have resulted in a mess.