法比里斯德东格结束在那不勒斯的学习后回到巴玛。他在修道院又见到了姑母，将他培养成人的桑塞福里纳公爵夫人。公爵夫人对青年法比里斯母亲般的感情逐渐变化，她开始冷落她的朋友，总理大臣莫斯卡伯爵，并对埃耐斯特四世亲王对她的不懈追求不屑一顾。法比里斯在一次无意杀人之后，亲王使用权谋，指使警长将他判禁要塞20年,在囚牢里，他结识了监狱长的女儿，克雷利雅，两个年青人相爱了。在克雷利雅的帮助下，法比里斯越狱成功。克蕾塞福里纳让步了，答应了亲王的要求，法比里斯刚好在亲王被之时获释。克蕾利雅和法比里斯最后一次相见，他们最后放弃了他们的爱情，桑塞福里纳又回到莫斯卡伯爵身边，克勒利雅也与自己的丈夫相聚，法比里斯从此隐居于巴玛修道院。 该片具有很强的艺术性，可欣赏性，获奥斯卡奖多项提名。

1st full-length feature by the self-described Christian-atheist, it was made in occupied France after Bresson had done a year in a prison camp. There's nothing ostentatious i his style. It's sparse, no flashy camera-acrobatics or editing tricks. I always feel the best directors are those whose work you hardly notice. The story is set in a convent, Sisters of Bethany, it's purpose is to help women in prison rehabilitate. In it we find Anne-Marie, a somewhat proud & middle-class woman who comes to logger-heads w/Mother Superior & this leads to problems. Along the way she connects w/one of the more recalcitrant prisoners & recognizes her pain & need to be reached out to. Upon release the prisoner returns to join the convent under suspicious circumstances. What we have is a contrast in characters who come to the convent for different reasons & an exploration into spiritual matters. Well worth watching...