REEL TIME: Robert Bresson's The Devil, Probably

In The Devil, Probably, French director Robert Bresson uses a cast of non-actors to convey an awkward, apathetic society that stands powerless in the face of its own looming demise.

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REEL TIME: Robert Bresson's The Devil, Probably

POSTED: Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 1:00 PM

Filed Under: Movies

What could cause mankind to continue in a direction of consumerism, environmental destruction and apathy in spite of itself?

The Devil, probably.

This is one answer given to the woes of contemporary civilization that ravage the lives of the young stars in Robert Bresson’s 1977 piece, The Devil, Probably (or El Diablo Probablemente). The film was screened on a new 35 mm print at International House recently as part of a retrospective on the poetic French director’s 40-year career, and will be available on Netflix soon.

After a dark title sequence, newspaper articles report on the suicide of Charles, the son of a wealthy industrialist. Turning back six months prior, the bulk of the plot reveals the sick human condition that drove the kid to his end.

Bresson uses a cast of non-actors to convey an awkward, apathetic society that stands powerless in the face of its own looming demise. Time after time, Charles and his university friends muse tiredly over footage of oil tanker spills, seal clubbing, landfills, corporate devastation and other tragedies. In spite of the disdain toward destruction caused by “progress,” no one has the will to take a stand. In one memorable moment, a psychoanalyst tries to convince Charles that his disillusionment is a mental disorder curable with medicine — the youth responds that his only ill is “seeing too clearly.”

There are some who will take issue with a beautiful, wealthy European boy glorifying suicide, though this would miss Bresson’s point. Even if the actions that stem from Charles’ attempts lead to existential nihilism, Bresson critiques society at all ends and asks viewers to stage their own fights.

Simplicity remains key here as it has in the director’s past films. Cinematography is beautiful but restrained, while the musical score is nearly nonexistant. Themes of finding individual power in a heartless society bent to its own destruction stay relevant today. At the time of filming, the disasters of Cherynobyl, Fukushima, Deepwater Horizon and Exxon-Valdez were but a twinkle in the future's eye. Whether viewers agree with Charles’ decision or not, one wishes there were more Bressons today to tackle these adversities with such modest means.

(andrew.wimer@citypaper) (@androokangaroo)

Posted by Andrew WImer @ 1:00 PM Permalink | 1 comment

Comments (1)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:52 PM, 06/06/2012

The original title of this film is not in Spanish, as you put it, but in French: Le Diable, Probablement.

— Soniaklp

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