The Baker's Wife (1938)

Robert Bassac: L'instituteur

Photos 

Quotes 

• Pétugue : I'm not speaking to Casimir either.

  L'instituteur : Why?

  Pétugue : Oh, it goes way back. My father and his father weren't speaking. And our grandfathers were already feuding. Mine didn't even know why. It went even further back. He figured there had to be a good reason.

  L'instituteur : This is a village of idiots.

  Pétugue : Not at all! Just a village where people have their pride.

  L'instituteur : A bunch of nobodies, none of you speaking.

• Aimable Castanier : Teacher, my wife isn't bad-looking, is she?

  L'instituteur : If she tried to kiss me passionately in some dark alley, I wouldn't complain.

  Aimable Castanier : You might not, but I would!

• Melle Angèle : Well, I won't play along! It's no use insisting. I'm not budging. I want to see the adulteress's pitiful return. She doesn't want us to look? Well, I'll look! And under a light, so she sees me. A lost woman is made queen of the village? Then what use is virtue?

  L'instituteur : It's no use, sweet Angèle! I'm glad you realize it now. You've wasted 40 years, but we'll make up for that! Let me bare that breast and stroke that rump! Give me those lips!

• L'instituteur : So it's all the devil's fault?

  Le curé : There's a freethinker for you! Takes away the sinner's responsibility and places it on the Evil One. No, sir! No. We all have free will to fight off temptation. The Evil One is indisputably present in that cabin on the marsh, but our friend's wife also has her free will to use when and where she will.

  Aimable Castanier : No! I don't want this happening again! To hell with free will! I want her back now! Free will can take a hike! I'll pound her free will into pulp and bake bread with it!

• L'instituteur : Gentlemen, our bakeress is down below.