Director Robert Bresson
Stars Christian Patey, Caroline Lang, Sylvie van den Elsen, Michel Briguet, Vincent Risterucci, Beatrice Tabourin
Certificate
Running time 85 mins
Made France 1983

ADAPTED from Tolstoy's "The False Note", Robert Bresson's classic shows the corrupting influence of money.

Deceitful schoolboy classmates pass forged notes on to a camera shop owner who, having realised, pays unsuspecting delivery man Christian Paley. Paley innocently pays for a café meal with the false notes and is arrested. His life spirals downwards from this point culminating in the film's breathtaking conclusion.

Money itself is the strongest character in the film. Bresson is fascinated by its ability to manipulate and morally destroy all who touch it. The film's characters play supporting roles to the physical presence of money. Their deliberately wooden performances helps to illustrate how money's powerful influence renders us helpless and malleable.

Oscar Black

Robert Bresson retrospective