Longing for Sacrifice in “The Devil, Probably” by R. Bresson
https://doi.org/10.69975/2074-0832-2025-64-2-61-71
Abstract
This article uses R. Bresson’s film “The Devil, Probably’’ as a case study of a ritual crisis in the consumer society, The researcher looks into the main aspects of the ritual crisis – absence of collective mythology and ritual, loss of connection with the sacred and inability to form a community – through focusing on a character whose goal is to restore connection with the sacred via ceremonial self-sacrifice. As a result, the author of the article comes to the conclusion that the protagonist of the film fails in his attempt, and his striving for martyrdom through ritual self-sacrifice turns out to be just a plain murder.
About the Author
I. K. Seliverstov
S.A. Gerasimov Russian Federation State University of Cinematography (VGIK)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Igor K. Seliverstov - post-graduate student, S.A. Gerasimov Russian State University of Cinematography (VGIK).
3 Wilhelm Pieck Str., Moscow, 129226
AuthorID 1236194
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Review
For citations:
Seliverstov I.K. Longing for Sacrifice in “The Devil, Probably” by R. Bresson. Vestnik VGIK. 2025;17(2(64)):61-71. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.69975/2074-0832-2025-64-2-61-71
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