Monsieur Vincent

In 1995, the Vatican compiled a list of “great films” to commemorate 100 years of cinema. Divided into three categories--religion, values, and art--the list features 45 films produced between 1905 and 1993, and includes classics such as _Grand Illusion_ (Jean Renoir, 1937), _Citizen Kane_ (Orson Welles, 1941), _Bicycle Thieves_ (Vittorio De Sica, 1949), _The Seventh Seal_ (Ingmar Bergman, 1957), and _8½_ (Federico Fellini, 1963). Some will be surprised to find on the list a film by Luis Buñuel, _Nazarín_ (1958), and one by Pier Paolo Pasolini, though the latter made the list through _The Gospel According to St. Matthew_ (1966). Six of the films included depict the lives of saints, and two of these are about St. Francis of Assisi. The others are _The Passion of Joan of Arc_ (Carl Theodor Dreyer, 1928), _A Man for All Seasons_ (1966), _Thérèse_ (Alain Cavalier, 1986), and the film that occupies us now: _Monsieur Vincent_ (Maurice Cloche, 1947).Before the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences began to confer the yearly award for Best Foreign Language Film (now known as Best International Feature Film), it presented what was known as a Special/Honorary Award to outstanding international films. Eight movies received this award between 1947 and 1955, and _Monsieur Vincent_ was the second one. I suspect that most people who watch Maurice Cloche’s film these days do so either because of the Special/Honorary Award it received or because of its presence in the Vatican’s list. I am a list person, and I happen to be interested in both of these categories. A few years ago, I decided to watch all the foreign films that had received Academy Awards. More recently, as I began to review films for a Catholic publication, I discovered the Vatican’s list and sought out the movies I was missing. At the moment, the only one I haven’t seen is _Ordet_ (Carl Theodor Dreyer, 1955).Where am I going with this? I believe _Monsieur Vincent_ deserves more attention than it currently receives. The film presents in linear fashion the life of a saint who devoted his life to serving the poor. In its opening scenes, we see Vincent de Paul arriving at the town he has been appointed to serve, where people throw stones at him. The place looks like a ghost town. Everyone is locked up in their houses: it is the late 17th century, the time of the second plague pandemic, and people fear contagion. Churches are abandoned, and rich people party like there’s no tomorrow. The film, in other words, depicts a world much like our own.Like Alain Cavalier’s _Thérèse_, _Monsieur Vincent_ portrays a saint as an extra-ordinary human being. Vincent is not perfect, nor does he have everything figured out. We see him treading the path to sainthood slowly but surely. At the beginning of the film, he is convinced of the importance of money when it comes to helping those in need; he eventually realizes that it is not the wealthy but the poor who will help him save the poor. The wealthy provide the necessary money, but a meeting of benefactresses can soon degenerate into a gossip session or an argument on fashion. The most important lesson, however, is that people whose lives have been reduced to a brutish struggle for survival will hardly become saints. “I realized that, before saving their souls, we need to allow the poor to live a life of awareness. To have a conscience.” Vincent helps the poor with their material needs without forgetting that they also need “the food that endures for eternal life” (John 6:27). One of the most touching scenes takes place when Vincent gives a Christian burial to a woman who was thought to have died of the plague. This act inspires the community. Vincent preaches by example, and people follow him, even the wealthy and the worldly, like the Count de Joigny, who joins Vincent’s order after his wife’s death.Do not expect ostentatious camera work in this film. The camera here is unobtrusive, as it should be: we are not to be distracted from the actors’ brilliant performances or from the timeless message. There are, however, aesthetically beautiful scenes, such as the conversation between Vincent and Queen Anne of Austria as they sit before a fireplace and discuss old age and the desire to have done more. Near the beginning of the film, there is a nice camera placement decision: as Vincent scolds the Count de Joigny, he looks directly at the camera. This is reminiscent of icons, from which saints stare directly at us. In this case, Vincent is scolding the viewer too.The film is also praiseworthy for its understanding of the concept of power. The media, especially social media, suggest that most people have only a rudimentary notion of the workings of power. This person, or this group, “has power;” this other person, this other group, “does not have power.” Oppressor and oppressed. Either/or. In reality, things are more complex: there are nuances. Power is not something a person or a group “has,” but something that is *exercised* to varying degrees by different people under diverse circumstances. Vincent points out that it is the poor who are in a position to forgive the well off. Here is one of the most memorable statements from the film: “Only because of your love, and your love only, will the poor forgive you for the bread you’re giving them.”Films about saints are character studies. The real action happens in the protagonist’s heart and soul. _Thérèse_ triumphs mainly because of Catherine Mouchet’s performance; the central element of _Monsieur Vincent_ is Pierre Fresnay’s masterful portrayal of the saint. A quick search on imdb reveals that I have seen two films in which Fresnay appears, _Grand Illusion_ and _The Man Who Knew Too Much_ (Alfred Hitchcock, 1934), and yet I have no recollection of the characters he played. Having seen his performance in _Monsieur Vincent_, I absolutely need to find a copy of _Le Corbeau_ (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1943), where he plays the lead role. I am a fan of Joseph Conrad, so it would be nice to see Fresnay as Razumov in _Under Western Eyes_ (Marc Allégret, 1936) too.I recommend that you watch _Monsieur Vincent_, even if you’re not interested in the Vatican’s list or in foreign movies that have received the Academy Award. Ever relevant, poignant, and inspiring, this film is unforgivably underrated. It is still available on DVD, however, and we must be thankful for that.For more on films from the Vatican’s list, please see my reviews on Alain Cavalier’s _Thérèse_, Abel Gance’s _Napoleon_ (1927), and George Cukor’s _Little Women_ (1933).Next on my list: _Ordet_.Thanks for reading, and enjoy the film!

Super quality and price!

Every doctor, nurse, social worker, government worker, priest, nun, rabbi and anyone who serves the poor should have to watch this movie during training. The restoration of this film was excellent. Pay attention to how the director lighted the actors and the scenes. This film did win an Oscar and the lead actor, Pierre Fresnay, carried the film. This film is as good as anything that came out of Hollywood at that time, which is remarkable since France was still in a shambles after WWII. Much of the script was derived, sometimes loosely, from Vincent de Paul's writings. De Paul's belief that one must serve, that is, to be a servant of the poor, was amazing, even in this day. De Paul believed we would be wrong to expect thanks or admiration from the poor. He wrote about the role of the giver puts the giver in a superior position in the poors' eyes and they resent us for having so much we can afford to GIVE away bread. He also wrote only our love can help the poor forgive us for giving them bread. I first saw this film 40 years ago and had not seen it since. My young life started out with these ideals and I drifted away from that. If your moral compass is swinging, take a look at this film. It helped me get back on the right road. Watch the movie! Even if one doesn't agree with it, this is a conversation we should be having. Charity without humility is nothing more than posturing, and it does not build treasure in Heaven. All my best to you!

Here's a delightful film: MONSIEUR VINCENT, from France in 1947. We've all seen those second hand stores and drop-off bins scattered throughout our cities. Well Here's the man who began it all. MONSIEUR VINCENT is in reality Saint Vincent de Paul, an heroic priest who devoted himself to the poor when France was enduring, without much patience, The Black Plague. Pierre Fresnay plays MONSIEUR VINCENT with stunning simplicity. He is a product of la Comedie Francaise, and acts with a sincerity that Hollywood had yet to discover.In truth, MONSIEUR VINCENT was able to gather around him wealthy aristocrats, a couple of "royals," enlighten them about the plight of the poor, and get them energized to work with him. It's interesting to remember that MONSIEUR VINCENT, (St. Vincent de Paul), also founded the Sisters of Charity, those nuns that Hollywood delighted to show because of their enormous white wingspread head gear. (Our misogynistic priesthood dubbed them "God's Geese").MONSIEUR VINCENT is exquisitely photographed; the story telling is linear and easy to follow. There's not a single "miracle scene" in MONSIEUR VINCENT, yet you cannot mistake, because of the direction and Fresnay's performance, that here indeed is a man endowed with "the odour of sanctity."Of course MONSIEUR VINCENT is in French with English subtitles, but don't panic, the acting of the entire ensemble is so well crafted that you don't really need the subtitles.Amazon has it on DVD, reasonably priced. Don't overlook it.Peace,P the G

Worth seeing! Pierre Fresnay puts you in the shoes of St. Vincent de Paul. You see how he lives, thinks and feels - what makes him get up yet another morning to battle on yet another day. Perhaps the greatest display of the actor's talent was completely non-verbal. He brings bread to the family of a poor woman with five children who had generously volunteered to take in another child - the young orphan girl whose mother he had just buried. He is completely surprised to discover that a young aristocratic lady has understood his quest and of her own volition has brought clothes for the girl and even cake for the family. A simple smile dawns on his face like the sun rising as he realizes that he has won a soul and a heart. We all rejoice with him. As another reviewer has said, you don't have to be Catholic or even Christian to enjoy this. It has universal appeal to us all.

too devastating to see more than once - I gave it to a priest friend as a present after I had seen it - extraordinarily challenging this person's life - would make most people feel most uncomfortable about a today's generally vacuous consumption and self indulgent oriented life styles.

This item arrived promptly and in good condition and I absolutely love this film. Thank-you.

I had not realised that this film did not have English subtitles. It's a French film with Italian dialogue and Italian subtitles. I still enjoyed it butcould only watch it in short sections as trying to translate a language I hardly know was hard. It's obviously of its time and it's treasurable for its photography, acting and its conviction.

Quite a serious film - black and white in more ways than one. The Jean Anouilh script was admirable and I knew I was being edified.

Excellent film