This story of a simple French country priest's battles with the evils he sees around him is dense and heavy with Catholic mysticism, but is richly rewarding. Gerard Depardieu is Father Donissan, a devout priest who believes he has met the Devil (a marvellously menacing Jean-Christophe Bouvet), disguised as an itinerant horse trader, on the lonely road to a neighbouring village. Director Maurice Pialat plays Depardieu's religious superior and Sandrine Bonnaire is the wild 16-year-old girl who Depardieu believes is possessed. With many striking images and distinguished performances from the four stars, this powerful film won the coveted Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1987.

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