Le Défroqué (1954)
Directed by Léo Joannon

Film Synopsis

It is in 1945, whilst being detained in a German prisoner-of-war camp, that Gérard Lacassagne discovers his vocation to become a priest.  This arises through a chance encounter with Maurice Morand, a defrocked Catholic priest.  Gérard finds Morand a fascinating individual, although he can understand why others might consider him heretical - his theological musings are as provocative as they are original.  After being repatriated to his native France, Morand causes further controversy by publishing a book that is widely condemned as a betrayal of Christ's message.  Meanwhile, Gérard's decision to enter the priesthood is ill-received by his family, who had expected better things of him.

Gérard's fiancée Catherine is so shocked that she seeks to thwart his plans by revealing his friendship with Morand to the Church authorities.  Far from putting Gérard off, this opposition merely persuades him that he has made the right choice.  Morand repays Gérard's confidence in him by sending him to a friend of his, under whose benevolent guidance he will be able to complete his training as a priest.  Gérard then devotes himself to the seemingly insuperable challenge of getting Morand reinstated in the church - in vain.  On the day that he is ordained as a priest, Gérard visits Morand in the hope that he can reawaken his beliefs.  The two men get into an argument, and as he strikes his friend Morand unwittingly reopens an old war wound.  As Gérard dies in his arms, Morand regains his faith by offering the Last Rites.