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By the Grace of God

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By the Grace of God

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Summary

Drama based on a true story, starring Melvil Poupaud, Denis Ménochet and Swann Arlaud. Three men abused as children by the same priest in Lyon come together when it becomes clear that he continues to work with youngsters. However, their task is made almost impossible by an unrepentant Catholic Church and a statute of limitations for their case.

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Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

David Parkinson

François Ozon originally planned to make a documentary about the efforts of the Archdiocese of Lyons to stonewall on the abuse allegations made against Father Bernard Preynat. Instead, he has produced a sombre and intense drama that presents the case against Preynat with a blend of indignation and incredulity that is all the more effective for its restraint. While Tom McCarthy's Oscar-winning Spotlight (2015) focused on the Boston Globe's exposé of ecclesiastical wrongdoing, Ozon zeroes in on three members of self-help group La Parole Libérée ("Lift the Burden of Silence") who want the trauma from their childhood abuse by a trusted priest to be acknowledged by the perpetrator and his protector, Cardinal Barbarin. The clerics are ably played by Bernard Verley and François Marthouret, but Ozon's dismay at their evasiveness is as damning as his compassion for the victims is keenly considered. By giving whistleblowing lawyer Alexandre Guérin (Melvil Poupaud), atheist François Debord (Denis Ménochet) and dysfunctional epileptic Emmanuel Thomassin (Swann Arlaud) their own distinctive approaches to reaching a resolution, Ozon is able to deliver something all the more affecting and compelling.

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7.2/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameAlexandre GuérinMelvil PoupaudFrançois DebordDenis MénochetEmmanuel ThomassinSwann ArlaudGilles PerretEric CaravacaCardinal BarbarinFrançois MarthouretBernard PreynatBernard VerleyIrèneJosiane BalaskoOdile DebordHélène Vincent

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Crew

rolenameDirectorFrançois Ozon

Details

Theatrical distributor

Curzon

Released on

2019-10-25

Languages

French

Guidance

Swearing

Formats

Colour

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