Day 1: "Pickpocket"

Director: Robert Bresson 1959
Last year, I saw my first Bresson film, “Au hazard Balthazar,” (1966) and it has haunted me since. The seemingly simple story follows a donkey named Balthazar from birth to death and from owner to owner. This is not a Disney film—and the film is much more complex than my description. Rent it and see for yourself. It is a great movie.
“Pickpocket” is told in Bresson’s unique, monastic style. Inspired by “Crime and Punishment,” it tells the story of a young man of intelligence who is emotionally cut off from society. He becomes what the title indicates, and only finds salvation when he goes to jail and realizes he is capable of love. Bresson, who died in 1999 at age 98, was a spiritual filmmaker (I don’t like the word spiritual, but it fits Bresson) of great vision.