diary of a country priest

Went to see Diary of A Country Priest at Film Forum....I had never seen it, but knew a bit about Robert Bresson and his exploration of the human heart, and soul, the quest for something more.....Paul Schrader based alot of Travis Bickle"s character in Taxi Driver on this film.......the way he uses narration also........I wasn't expecting the delayed power and emotional affect of the film.......it begins quietly, slowly and continues in this same manner......long takes, extended close ups on the priest.......and not alot happens,  but somehow, the images begin to act like a narcotic.....and through the brilliance of his film making, he somehow manages to bring us inside the soul of this gentle, tortured priest......unaware of it's hypnotic affect, I was slowly transported into the emotional turmoil of his character without much more than a glance, a look, a stare, a gaze, an agonized reckoning.........when the film came to its quiet, understated end, the audience was floored.....you could have heard a pin drop in the audience......it was as if your soul, not your mind had experienced the journey on the screen.....I know Bresson is not everyone's taste, but you have to admire a film maker who has the courage to attempt the impossible, and not cater to the audience's wants......not much action, not much dialogue, outside the voice over,  but he manages to challenge us to go deeper, to see film in a different way, to throw away your expectations of what a film and story should be, and take the leap and go on the emotional journey, which leads deep into your subconscious.................the cry of the soul,an exploration of the dark night of the soul, and the sweet transcendence when the spirit, in love, is finally set free....................as a film maker, I hope I have the same courage to challenge and not pander to a certain accepted  visual cadence, but instead create one which touches each viewer in a much deeper way........................can't wait for the new 35mm restored print of Taxi Driver starting March 18th at the Film forum..........