Bernadette is a 1988 French film directed by Jean Delannoy. It tells the story of St. Bernadette Soubirous (Sydney Penny) and the miraculous apparition of Our Lady to her at Lourdes, France.
It is interesting to compare this film to The Song of Bernadette which I reviewed last year. This film is more historically accurate and also less dialog driven, preferring to let the simplicity of the story speak for itself instead of using it to explore issues of faith and rationality as the King film did. It's also less comprehensive. Where Song covered her life in the convent and her death after a long-term illness, this film ends with her entering the convent, leaving the rest of the story for a sequel, The Passion of Bernadette. On the other hand this film gives a little more insight into the political background than the King film did. The authorities in Lourdes, being republicans, are shown to be initially afraid that the apparitions are a royalist scheme. Perhaps the main reason for these differences is that The Song of Bernadette was based on a novel, while this movie is based simply on the historical account of the story, which the director Jean Delannoy wanted to follow as closely as possible.
Because of this historically accurate approach, and perhaps also due to budgetary constraints, the movie has a fairly realistic tone and minimalist style. The Blessed Virgin is never seen, only Bernadette's transfixed reaction to her. This is what impresses me most about the film. It allows the viewers to judge the truth of the events largely by themselves.
The cinematography is restrained and unobtrusive as, again, Delonnoy prefers to let the events speak for themselves. The acting is generally strong from Sydney Penny's forthright, humble portrayal of Bernadette to Jean-Marc Bory's ill tempered and firm-but-kind, Father Peyramale. The score, though clearly low budget, effectively evokes the mysterious aura of the apparitions and miracles.
The film is not without problems. The pacing is sporadic at times and there are characters and subplots that feel underdeveloped. But overall I really appreciate the directors restrained, reverential approach to the story and would certainly recommend this film to any one interested in the Lourdes apparitions.
Score: 8.5/10
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