The victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests — who were seen so fleetingly but left such a poignant impression in the Oscar-winning Spotlight — take center stage in the French film By the Grace of God.
Another fact-based story, this one begins in 2014, when a banker in Lyon, France, discovers that the priest who assaulted him 30 years earlier is still ministering to children. The banker takes his complaint to the bishop of Lyon, who ultimately does nothing. The movie’s narrative later passes to another victim who doesn’t know the banker, and then to a third man — giving writer-director François Ozon a chance to use this real-life pursuit of criminal justice to explore the dynamics of several French families of differing character and social status, and how the long-past sexual abuse has deformed all of them in some way.
With a pulsing soundtrack and warm, velvety cinematography, By the Grace of God constitutes a landmark achievement in humanizing this difficult subject and manages to be just as gripping as Spotlight. The case is ongoing, with several of the Catholic authorities depicted having sued to stop the film’s distribution in France in February. (They failed; the movie was a hit in Europe.) Much has happened in the case since the movie’s release, but that’s for you to discover on Google after you see it. And see it you must.
Starts Nov. 8 at Grail Moviehouse
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.