Misericordia
This review was in the beginning published on September 9 , 2024 as a part of our Toronto International Film Festival reportage .
Acclaimed Gallic author - conductor Alain Guiraudie ’s latest feature , Misericordia ( 2024)(Miséricorde ) , attempts to tackle repressed gender in a twisted mix of humor , secrecy , and deception . The film ’s centerpiece is the mystical Jérémie Pastor ( Félix Kysyl ) , who render to his rural hometown of Saint - Martial from Toulouse , France to attend the funeral of his former party boss , the Greenwich Village baker . With the family in lamentation , Jérémie decides to stay with the widow woman , Martine ( Catherine Frot ) , to the consternation of her Logos Vincent ( Jean - Baptiste Durand ) and his former puerility serious friend . With the growing tensity and discomfort , Jérémie lean on his impulses for assuagement .
Misericordiais an intense showing of human uncertainty when at odds flavour of desire and disdain clash . Through Jérémie , the hand slowly introduces us to this concept through strange conversations among the character . Upon his comer , Jérémie call back childhood moments otherwise than his counterpart . The loner neighbor , Walter ( David Ayala ) , remembers feel isolated from Jérémie while Vincent recall playing Yahtzee with him frequently . These representative attest the minor frictions that will predictably develop after being away for so long .
Misericordia Blends Genres To Tackle The Intricacies Of Repressed Desire
Eventually , the kinship between Jérémie and the townspeople take a sudden crook when a heated argumentation breaks into a deadly fight . Guiraudie play his cards the right way by shifting his middling lighthearted tale of a reunification to one that marries investigating , mystery , and write - up desire . The hand also takes on investigatory storytelling by introducing other characters , like the local priest and a police officer ( Sébastien Faglain ) , who volunteer a hint of humor and get off to do the inbuilt mystery of the story . With the involvement of Martine ’s family , local neighbor , and police , a grouping effort ensues to uncover the mystery .
Despite a solid foundation , Misericordialacks the article of faith to convert us of its content and intent to sympathise human demeanour . This is a story about expression and acceptance of one ’s sexual desires , yet there ’s no buildup to its thematic component , nor is there an adequate death penalty that is meaningful . We often get a coup d’oeil of Jérémie ’s repressed desire through small interaction that are subsequently excused for drunkenness . regrettably , these moments never lead to important commentary or conversation . They ’re contrived afterthought incorporate as a way to supply excuses for Jérémie ’s deceit .
Claire Mathon’s Cinematography Amplifies Misericordia’s Script
Even with these defect , Misericordiacontains redeeming caliber that keep us paste to the blind . The cinematography stand out ; Claire Mathon ’s captures the gear up ’s serious tones and autumnal sonority . The allurement of her camerawork accentuates the storytelling even when the playscript does not . to boot , the cast fully commits to their respective roles with the perfect amount of humor . Frot is arresting as Martine , battling her rarity with produce contempt as she ’s forced to grapple with uninterrupted lie . She is in full convincing as a widow get the better of by tragedy and deceitfulness .
Despite a solid origination , Misericordialacks the conviction to win over us of its subject matter and intent to understand human conduct .
With its best effort to tackle the complexities of intimate desire and repression through circumstance , milieu , and fructify , Misericordianever reaches a stratum that would top to valuable conversation . As a whole , the motion picture is entertaining , but even its termination is abrupt and uncertain given the foundation of the first half . Guiraudie ’s tardy boasts great performance and stunning cinematography , but even these elements are n’t enough to fully squeeze the rickety implementation of its thematic elements . Though it may not have been do to its best potentiality , Misericordiastill manages to get a rise out of you when you least wait it .
Misericordiapremiered at the Cannes Film Festival and block out at the Toronto International Film Festival . It is now meet in theater .
Misericordia follows Jérémie as he returns to his hometown for a acquaintance ’s funeral . Amidst a backdrop of unspoken tensions and intuition , he becomes entangle in local hearsay and face a law investigating after entrust an irreversible act .
Misericordia follows Jérémie as he returns to his hometown for a friend’s funeral. Amidst a backdrop of unspoken tensions and suspicion, he becomes entangled in local rumors and faces a police investigation after committing an irreversible act.
