Dieu a besoin des hommes

Henri Queffelec was a 'catholic' novelist who wrote extensively of the sea and of his native Brittany. 'The Rector of the Isle of Sein' has here been adapted by Pierre Bost and Jean Aurenche and directed by Jean Delannoy. Everything about this film is bleak in terms of setting, subject matter and the harsh lives of the protagonists. What makes it bearable is the performances. Here we have another courageous and uncompromising portrayal by Pierre Fresnay as the Sacristan who takes over the running of the church once the villagers have been deserted by their distinctly non-compassionate Rector, played by Jean Brochard. Excellent performances also from Daniel Gélin, Madeleine Robinson, Germaine Kerjean and the utterly mesmerising Andrée Clement so tragically taken by tuberculosis in her thirties. Although directed and performed with the utmost conviction this grim, doom-laden and strangely Godless film is completely devoid of hope and will no doubt continue to languish in obscurity.