Léon Morin, Priest (1961)

7.5Not Rated130 minDirector: Jean-Pierre Melville

1961 French film

Léon Morin, Priest (French: Léon Morin, prêtre) is a 1961 French drama film directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. It was adapted by Melville from Béatrix Beck's novel The Passionate Heart (French: Léon Morin, prêtre), which won the Prix Goncourt in 1952. Set during WWII in Occupied France, the film stars Emmanuelle Riva as a jaded, lapsed Catholic mother and widow of a Jewish husband, who finds herself falling in love with a young, altruistic priest, played by Jean-Paul Belmondo.

For his work in the film, Belmondo was nominated for the BAFTA Film Award for Best Foreign Actor. At the 1961 Venice Film Festival, the film won the “Award of the City of Venice” and was nominated for the Golden Lion.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Léon Morin, Priest about?
Léon Morin, Priest (1961) — In World War II, the widow Barny sees the Italian soldiers arriving in occupied Saint Bernard while walking to her job. Barny lives with her daughter and works correcting tests and feels a great attraction toward her boss Sabine. When the Germans arrive, Barny sends her half-Jewi
Is Léon Morin, Priest based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Léon Morin, Priest scary?
Content rating: Not Rated. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.