The two films by Robert Bresson, a solitary filmmaker, will finally be shown in Japan for the first time. These are films that light the way for people who are conflicted by the times, both now and in the past.

There are many reasons why a filmmaker is considered "great. It could be the innovative production of the time, the unconventional direction, or the intensity of the dialogue and images. I believe that a film can only be called "great" if it continues to move people's hearts and minds even after many years have passed.

Director Robert Bresson's films have a great deal more to offer in terms of their gaze on human beings. And it is precisely because we are in the midst of a chaotic time, with the Coronas and conflicts between countries, that I would like to seek salvation in his work.

With the release of the past two films, we are looking forward to seeing Bresson's charms being reaffirmed in various parts of Japan.

Lancelot of the Lake" and "The Devil Probably" started their roadshow yesterday. These films have never been shown in theaters in Japan (except for special screenings), and now, more than 40 years later, they are being revived in 4K digital remastering.

Robert Bresson is often described as a "solitary filmmaker. The French director, known for films such as "Resistance" (1956), "Pickpocket" (1959), and "A Gentle Woman" (1969), placed the utmost importance on capturing the truth.

We dared to use amateurs instead of casting professional actors, and thoroughly eliminated excessive direction in order to make the story work. He has continued to pursue the truth itself in his visual expressions. Despite his limited output, his one-of-a-kind auteurship has had a profound influence on filmmakers around the world, including Godard and other Nouvelle Vague filmmakers.

Below is a summary of the two films.

The Lancelot of the Lakes.

After his third film, he made several attempts to make this film, but various obstacles prevented it from being made. The film was hailed as one of Bresson's finest works and won the FIPRESCI Prize at the 27th Cannes International Film Festival.

The story is a period drama that depicts the collapse of chivalry from a modern perspective, centering on the illicit love between Queen Gnievre, who appears in the legend of King Arthur (Arthus), and Lancelot, a knight of the Round Table.

Although it is a unique work that one would not expect from a conventional Bresson film, starting with a shocking scene of knights slaughtering each other, the entire film, including the main character who agonizes between his loyalty to the king, his love for the queen, and his vow to God, is permeated with Bresson's unique aesthetics.

Maybe the devil."

François Truffaut called the film "wonderfully sensual. He praised the innocent beauty of the main cast, which consists of four ordinary young people who are not actors by profession. The film received high international acclaim and was awarded the Silver Bear (Special Jury Prize) at the 27th Berlin International Film Festival.

The film is set in Paris in the 1970s, when nature is being destroyed and social conventions are undergoing radical change. The film spins an apocalyptic tale that looks at the death and life of one young man.

In its home country of France, the film is so despairing that it was forbidden to be seen by people under the age of 18, and because it contains radical social criticism, it has not seen the light of day in Japan for a long time. However, it has now landed in Japan. It is a film that should be seen by people of all ages, especially at a time of serious social unrest and environmental crisis.

If you have been a Bresson fan for a while, or if you are tired of "entertainment films" that leave no room for thought, please come to the theater. Online ticket reservations are available atthis way (direction close to the speaker or towards the speaker)From.