Mon curé chez les riches: A relic that just might charm you

Is it worth the watch?

Look, Mon curé chez les riches is not for everyone. If you need quick cuts or anything resembling a modern plot, you are going to be bored to tears within five minutes. But if you like old French stuff that feels like it was filmed inside a shoebox, you might actually dig it. It’s got that specific 1930s charm where everyone talks like they’re projecting to the back row of a theater.

The story is simple enough: a humble priest is thrown into the lives of some very rich, very dramatic people. It’s a classic setup. It reminded me a bit of the social clashing you see in The Devil to Pay! where the stakes feel both huge and totally inconsequential at the same time.

Oddly specific observations

There is a moment about halfway through where Pierre Juvenet just stands there looking confused for way too long. It’s not a deep character beat. It’s just… a guy being confused. It becomes almost hypnotic. Why did they leave that in? I have no idea, but I love it. It’s weirdly human.

The sets look like they are made of cardboard and hope. Sometimes you can see the light reflecting off the backdrop, which is obviously just a painting of a garden. It’s not trying to fool you, and that’s fine. It’s much more honest than the CGI mess we get today. 🎨

The rhythm of it

The acting is very, very broad. People don't just walk into a room; they announce their presence with their whole body. If you’ve seen Uncle Tom's Cabin, you know that style—everything is slightly amplified, like an opera performed in a living room.

• The priest’s coat looks like it’s been through a war.
• The wealthy lady’s hat is honestly a character on its own.
• The dialogue is sharp, if you can keep up with the French, but it feels like a stage play taped to a wall.

Honestly, the movie gets better once you stop expecting it to be a "film" and start treating it like a museum piece. You can see the seams. You can see the actors waiting for their cue to walk left or right. It’s clunky, but it has a heartbeat.

It’s not quite as snappy as some of the other stuff from that era, but it’s got a weird, stubborn personality. Maybe it’s not essential viewing, but it’s certainly not boring if you’re in the right mood. Just don’t expect it to change your life. Sometimes, a movie is just a movie. 🤷‍♂️