LES DAME DU BOIS DE BOULOGNE

France, 1945, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Directed by Robert Bresson.

Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne was Robert Bresson's second film and its slight story with its presentation of interior struggles was difficult for audiences on its first release. It is a difficult enough film to appreciate now, but we are more familiar with its techniques.

Bresson is considered by many to be too much of an intellectual, too much of a moralist, too much of a Catholic. His films have a certain hard Gallic intensity that makes them powerful studies rather than entertaining parables. Comparisons could be made with his short film Pickpocket or his Trial of Joan of Arc and also with the moral fables of director, Eric Rohmer, My Night at Maud's or Claire's Knee.

The characters in this film represent attitudes, especially of good and evil and the film is constructed almost like a morality play with the hero between two women who represent the forces of good and evil. whose appearances are equally deceptive. And evil wins in a harsh, destructive way.

1. Bresson is considered to take more interest in interior life and struggles than external action. Is this true of this film?

2. What happens to Helene as a person throughout the film? What happens to Jean? What happens to Agnes?

3. How evil was Helene as a person? Was she completely malicious intending revenge and destruction, or was she merely playing games with people's lives?

4. How were Helene's inner sentiments expressed in her face and makeup? Is this true of Agnes?

5. Was Jean callous when he responded to Helene's breaking up of their affair? Was he a man of depth?

6. Is it too fanciful to see the film as a modern morality play of a man tormented by and moving between good and evil and of good made the tool of evil?

7. Did you find the film entertaining? Were you absorbed by the action? Why? or did you find yourself observing the action and seeing the characters representing particular points of view?