Rent L'Argent (1983)

Capital. - L'Argent review by NC

Many of the facets of cinematography which are taken for granted when watching a feature film have to be abandoned on encountering Robert Bresson. Not just the non-professional cast, commanded at all costs not to 'act', for which he's so famous, but the out-of-joint picture framing, and principal incidents taking place offstage, or of which we see only the after-events. There is a linear narrative, but often as if a couple of scenes have been edited out, leaving the viewer to assume what has happened. Once you've adjusted your balance, it's a unique and fulfilling experience.

Bresson's Catholicism may not be as overt as in 'Les Anges Du Peche' or 'Diary Of A Country Priest', but it is evident nonetheless. Money is the root of all evil. This is what happens when money is worshipped rather than God. Injustice. Reward for perjury. Bribes for silence. And let's not care too much if the innocent fall.

Yvon is let down by the police, the courts, his employers, even his wife. By the time a society built around capital has done with him, he has turned from a mild-mannered family man into a monster with bloody revenge in his heart.

The transition doesn't really work, which is why the film has four stars, and not five, but the assertion is sharp. All the more so because Bresson's ascetic tone ensures that any startling or stimulating action strikes like a flash of brilliant colour across a black-and-white picture.

Minimalist to the extreme - L'Argent review by RD

It's actually a great story, and is shown with typical French matter of fact pace and scenes which roll the story out in a slow but deliberate fashion. This is often extremely good and I am a great fan of French cinema, but this film just didn't work for me and I did find my eyelids closing more than once.

The story revolves around Yvon, who is unjustly convicted of passing a fake banknote, and we follow him through a series of logical downturns in his life from then on. There is a side plot dealing with a dishonest shop assistant, which although he meets up with Yvon later in the film, does not add to the story and is a distraction.

The whole film and acting is done in a deadpan slow manner that really does become irritating and does not help the actual story.

Even the ending is odd, it's very violent but you'd never notice as the scene is slow, methodical and quiet just like the rest of the film.

Mmmmm… - L'Argent review by CB

Very unusually for me, just couldn’t get into this film and bailed out after 30 mins.

My problem and struggling to get to 100 characters.