It seems no discussion about a crucial part of this film, Marie's father. He is a complex character, several stories happened on him. But I didn't catch all of them in my first viewing, I think many things about him are only suggested rather than told in details.
Can someone give me an outline about what he did and why so?
He took over the running of the farm but then was accused of embezzling money from the farm. He refused to even answer the accusations in court. He represents "pride" as one of the various sins the owners of Balthazar represent.
shareWe have the following scenes: one with the lawyer who indicates that the owner wants an accounting, while Marie's father makes him read a letter from the owner expressing his complete trust and saying there was no need to show the books.
A scene with the adult Jacques and Marie, where he indicates he wants to settle matters, believes Marie's father is innocent, and mentions anonymous lettes indicating that Marie's father was stealing.
A scene where Jacques leaves in anger, followed by a scene where Marie's father looks over the accounts, and then denies to Marie's mother that he has the accounts. Marie's mother indicates that he should not have thrown Jacques out because he was on their side.
A scene where Marie's father leaves court with a lawyer, indicating that a court that allows him to be insulted by an attorney for the other side is not a just court. He is told that a verdict will be entered against him if he does not return to court. He refuses.
A scene where Marie indicates to the Merchant that her family has lost everything.
A scene where Jacques returns and indicates that his father wanted to return everything won in the judgment. Marie indicates her father will not accept it.
A scene where Jacques and Marie's father take Marie away together after the gang rape.
A scene where, after Marie leaves, Marie's father turns away from the priest and dies in despair, indicating he may not have suffered as much as the priest thinks.
Putting this together, there were accusations that Marie's father had been stealing from the owner, Jacques's father. Marie's father is offended that anyone would not trust him, and refuses to show the accounts he has. Jacques's father sues, and gets a judgment because Marie's father is angered by some comments during the Court proceeding and leaves, causing a default judgment. The judgment takes everything they have. Jacques's father still wants to make everything right, as does Jacques, but Marie's father is too proud to comply, to the end, where he is too proud to accept God.
Look for the underscore! Don't be fooled by cheap imitations!