Description
Book SynopsisAlthough Bresson is widely regarded as one of the greatest directors of the 20th century, his films are rarely shown in the English-speaking world. This book introduces his movies to a broader audience and assesses 13 of his most significant films in the context of detailed plot summaires, vivid character descriptions and settings.
Trade Review"Bresson is to French film what Dostoevsky is to the Russian novel and Mozart to German music."--Jean-Luc Godard
"Bresson stands as an ideal of simplicity.... I find him very close to the oriental concept of Zen: depth within narrowly defined limits."--Andrei Tarkovsky
"With tightly-written, jargon-free prose and an abundance of critical insights, film critic Cunneen reivews Bresson's oeuvre, finding meaning in his subject's view that life can be demanding or tragic but is ultimately redeemed by our common vulnerability and humanity....this is a worthy effort to make the work of an uncompromising artist accessible to general audiences and a new generation of film students. Recommended for large public and academic film collections."--Steven Rees, Library Journal, April 15, 2003
"Anyone who cherishes the connection between faith and film needs to revisit Bresson and take Cunneen along as a spiritual companion. Cunneen's Catholic sensibility and previous studies...show him to be a trustworthy and knowledgeable guide. And because watching Bresson's films unaccompanied can be difficult and at times confusing, Cunneen's book is just what the serious film student needs for the journey."--James M. Wall, Christian Century, July 26, 2003
"Cunneen clearly nails the spiritual effect of his subject's style. Though Bresson won't promise happy endings, 'his austere, clear-eyed cinematography fosters a deep understanding of the grandeur and pain of our common humanity.' Recommended." -M. Yaco
