MovieChat Forums > Bernadette Discussion > I like it, but not historically accurate

I like it, but not historically accurate

posted 15 years ago by Molly-31
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The prologue states that everything in this film is taken from historical records. If that is the case, they shouldn't have included a romantic interest between Bernadette and Antoine. He was already married when her visions began and their friendship was platonic. The idea that he was in love with her was taken out of Werfel's novel as was the business about her running ahead with the wood, and staying in the widow's house. The widow did believe Bernadette, and did at first think that the lady might be her dead daughter (such things were not unheard of, it's called a revenant and is harmless) but she did not have Bernadette staying in her house and wearing her daughter's Children of Mary outfit. They have also got the fictional character of Hyacinthe de Lafite in the freethinkers' cafe. No such person existed. He was invented by Werfel, as were a number of other incidents in this film and some of the dialogue.

The whole scene where Antoine runs to the grotto and rallies the people to rescue her from the police interrogation was just plain embarrassing.

They should have used the biography by Trochu. The facts have been so mixed up with Werfel's legend that I doubted a movie about Bernadette that sticks to the facts could ever be made until I saw "It is enough to love", a French film which was made in the 1950s. Although it kind of compresses things for time, it's tons more accurate than either this or the Selznick film.

What I like about this film... it's understated, they're being very careful about period costumes and manners. they're singing local and period hymns, and the background music's a lot better. I love the old Song of Bernadette, but the music is too exaggerated and churchy. The way I understand it, the whole experience was very understated and much more like it's portrayed here.

[–] Tekawitha 13 years ago

actually, before i saw the two movies, i had just finished reading a book that contains all the old records of the Lourdes apparitions, from the time of the first, to when Bernadette died, and the movies are very close to the historical records. its "Bernadette Speaks: A Life of St. Bernadette Soubirous in Her Own Words" by Rene Laurentin. i've also read and recommend "St. Bernadette Soubirous: 1844-1879" by Francois Trochu.this book is not as accurate as the first, as it is not a collection of all the written records, but still one of the best books on her.

i wouldnt call the bit of business between Antoine and Bernadette love...the two times where they interact alone is not love, the first, he is just trying to be helpful to them as a group, and Bernadette stopped to look at the millwheel. the second, as she is leaving for Nevers, i believe is a nod to the old movie, but isnt a love scene either. as for Antoine rousing the slate workers, i believe they simply chose him as a known character-it could just as easily been one of the workers, but the director may have been thinking of it being a case of him passing on the word. Bernadette did stay at the homes of a number of the richer folk of the town, as well as scorned by others-the incident of the chocolatier slapping her in the face did happen.

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