A saint among sinners
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | A saint among sinners |
| Original title | Au royaume des cieux |
| Country of production | France |
| original language | French |
| Publishing year | 1949 |
| length | 104 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 16 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Julien Duvivier |
| script | Julien Duvivier Henry Jeanson |
| production |
Arys Nisotti Pierre O'Connell |
| camera | Victor Arménise |
| cut | Wolf Krüger (German version) |
| occupation | |
| |
A saint among sinners (original title: Au royaume des cieux, German: "In the heavenly kingdom") is a French feature film by Julien Duvivier from 1949. He himself wrote the screenplay together with Henry Jeanson . The leading roles are cast with Serge Reggiani , Suzanne Cloutier and Suzy Prim . The film premiered in the country of production on September 30, 1949; in the Federal Republic of Germany it was first shown in cinemas on June 23, 1950.
action
The setting is an educational institution for girls who have committed criminal offenses in a western French countryside that is often hit by floods. After the sudden death of the good-natured manager Bardin, the strict Fraulein Chamblas becomes her successor. 18-year-old Maria Lambert, who has just been delivered, is the first to feel their hard-heartedness. After a harassing interrogation, she has to spend two days in a damp solitary cell. When she then took her place among the other pupils, she tells of her love for a young man with whom she was together for six months before her arrest.
Maria's friend Pierre Massot stays in the village inn. He wants to leave no stone unturned to free Maria. Via the young Margot, who has left the institution unlawfully but now wants to return, he sends Maria the message about where he is and what his aim is.
To protest against the reckless behavior of the new director, the girls go on hunger strike. Chamblas reacts to this with cruel punishments. When the village priest, who is also the chaplain, gets wind of this, he threatens the director to complain about her to the supervisory authority. The theologian thus achieves that the punitive measures are lifted.
In the wash house, some girls get into a heated argument. As the turmoil threatens to escalate, Pierre suddenly appears, who has managed to break into the building. Only a grid separates him from Maria. He quickly lets his girlfriend know about his escape plan. Tomorrow is Christmas, and then the coup should take place. - The director of the institution learned of Pierre's plan through a babbler. Almost hysterically, she banishes Maria again to the solitary cell. The other pupils would like to help Maria, but see no way out. Then the group decides to take an unusual approach: the girls pray to God in case God exists .
The miracle is not long in coming. Miss Guérande, the deputy head of the institution, has a heart for her protégés and has managed to get Maria released from her cell. In a closed train, the girls go to the village church - sometimes they have to cover the way in boats because of the high water - and take a seat on the gallery. During mass, the river breaks a gap in the dam and a raging tidal wave rushes into the church. Pierre, who has already been waiting for his girlfriend at church, uses the panic to flee with Maria.
When the other girls returned to the institution, they were harassed again by the Chablas. The girls then vent their indignation by seizing the keys and raging around the house in a wild bunch. In order not to be lynched, the Chamblas has no choice but to flee now. Calm returns under the new management of Miss Guérande.
Reviews
The lexicon of international films judged: “Duvivier proves to be an excellent technician who can turn a simple, human story into a convincing film through good actor management.” The Protestant film observer drew the following conclusion: “A […] because of The film was warmly welcomed for its hopeful tendency and its artistic design. "
source
- Program for the film: Das Neue Filmprogramm , published by H. Klemmer Verlag of the same name, Frankfurt am Main, without a number.
Web links
- A saint among sinners in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- The mirror about the making of the film and some background information