By the Grace of God

In select theaters
October 18^th 2019

137 minutes

French

France
Belgium

BY THE GRACE OF GOD is the true story of three adult men- Alexandre (Melvil Poupaud), François (Denis Ménochet) and Emmanuel (Swann Arlaud)- who banded together to expose the code of silence that continued to enable a priest who abused them as boys. The three men will go to great lengths to denounce the perpetrator and the institution that has always protected him, a risky endeavor that will endanger the relationships with their loved ones, as well as compromise their own fragile selves. The true story upon which the film is based is an ongoing scandal in France, with Philippe Barbarin, Cardinal of Lyon, convicted in March 2019 for concealing the conduct of Father Preynat.

starring...

Melvil Poupaud

Alexandre Guérin

Denis Ménochet

François Debord

Swann Arlaud

Emmanuel Thomassin

Éric Caravaca

Gilles Perret

François Marthouret

Cardinal Barbarin

Bernard Verley

Bernard Preynat

Josiane Balasko

Irène

Writer & Director

François Ozon

Cinematography

Manuel Dacosse

Film Editing

Laure Gardette

Music

Evgueni Galperine, Sacha Galperine

Production Design

Emmanuelle Duplay

Producer

Eric Altmayer, Nicolas Altmayer, David Ragonig

Casting

David Bertrand, Anaïs Duran

93% on the CINEMETER

85% - Oct 20, 2019

I appreciate the calm and considered approach the film takes. Glad for lack of hysteria and rants and raves. Personalized stories did promote empathy and compassion. A strong film.
San Francisco Member

Very poignant. I found the 3-part structure really interesting, starting with Alexandre, moving to Francois and then Emmanuel. It showed all the different kinds of efforts it took to get this story revealed—while also showing how many different kinds of men were affected.
San Francisco Member

Very well executed. Layered. Heartbreaking, enraging and ultimately hopeful. “ —[signed] A Devout Atheist
San Francisco Member

Excellent. By the grace of God movies like this are made. My only criticism: Too long. Is it that difficult to edit to 120 minutes or less? Otherwise it was a superb and complex rendering of the varied personalities and perceptions of the victims.
San Francisco Member

Best treatment of the subject I’ve seen to date. Strong story, well-implemented, acted and rendered. Long, but did not drag and felt like a fairly complete ? in one particular location.
San Francisco Member

A movie I won’t soon forget. Strong story, beautifully told. Unlike Spotlight—where the focus was more clinical—the focus here was more personal . . . and moving. A very good film that might have been great with tighter editing.
San Francisco Member

Why does the Catholic Church attract these kind of people? How can the Catholic Church look the other way? So little guilt and taking ownership of the problem.”
San Francisco Member

ATL

100% - Oct 27, 2019

Extraordinary! The most amazing depiction I have seen or read about the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church on any continent! In many ways, the non-graphic depiction of the flashbacks makes the film even more powerful.
Atlanta Member

I found this film very powerful due to the way it moved fully into the very different experiences of individual victims, yet also showed how widespread the damage from the abuse was, affecting generations, families, communities, nations. This movie was a masterpiece in the genre of films addressing this subject.
Atlanta Member

I’m so angry. So devastating. Tense and beautifully acted. At almost 2 and ½ hours, it never felt long or slow.
Atlanta Member

Exquisite, yet brutally realistic in all aspects…just blew me away.
Atlanta Member

I usually don’t watch movies with this content. It was heartbreaking and so important to all of us who can heal by telling our truth to power. And to get off the sidelines when children, especially, are at risk of trauma.
Atlanta Member

Best film of series this season. Totally engrossing and did not drag.
Atlanta Member

What an extraordinary film. Devastating. Thank you for binging it to the CC.
Atlanta Member

BOS

97% - Oct 6, 2019

Outstanding film dealing with so many moral issues.
Boston Member

A brilliant portrayal of the impact of sexual abuse, including the range of responses among different individual and family members.
Boston Member

Riveting. Terrific. Fascinating and engaging portrayal of the long effects on life and relationships of early trauma. The courage of the men was so evident
Boston Member

Unbelievable acting.
Boston Member

Horrifying expose’ Challenging, well articulated, thought provoking.
Boston Member

Difficult, exhausting, disturbing, aggravating, helps in understanding the difficulty of coming forward.
Boston Member

92% - Oct 6, 2019

Excruciating and heartbreaking. We all know this story but this movie is so powerful to raise these victims to heroes. Bravo!
Greater New Haven Member

The movie dealt masterfully with the them of forgiveness--some acts are unforgivable.
Greater New Haven Member

The flashback scenes were very powerful to demonstrate the devastation that the action of the priest. Beautiful and poignant movie to see and I am Catholic.
Greater New Haven Member

Tremendous acting. What an important story told through various voices--Bravo.
Greater New Haven Member

Truly horrifying and excellently portrayed.
Greater New Haven Member

Wow / What a movie
Greater New Haven Member

Powerful, painful, a story that needs to be told.
Greater New Haven Member

The movie's length reinforces the long reach of abuse as it unfolded over decades [this is, in my view, an accurate read, but it was not widely held by the audience]. I offer my thanks to the film makers.
Greater New Haven Member

Important subject well done
Greater New Haven Member

This film had me feeling such tension, stress from quite early on. It is a testament to the director that the film was that powerful. I grew up enveloped in Catholicism going from devout belief as a young child to rage at the hypocrisy as a teenager. I though I'd made peace with the fact that the Catholic Church goes on but all my rage re-surfaced. This is a powerful film--risky but so necessary and, I hope, it results in the recognition that children are still not safe.
Greater New Haven Member

89% - Oct 13, 2019

One of the most infuriating films I’ve ever seen. Really understood the long-term effects of abuse-related trauma, haven’t seen such an effective film about it since ‘Mysterious Skin.” Super, super French. I dug it.
Washington, DC Member

This was the second movie in a row I would never have chosen to see. But I am so glad to have seen it. The movie is so powerful, so moving - and so inspirational. All despite the length, too. I hope this movie is marketed skillfully.
Washington, DC Member

A very hard movie to watch, but so well done! I loved the pace and the story - the way it ‘unfurled’ through the three characters. The focus shifted - the momentum built and the three pieces worked together towards the final resolution and the healing of the three men.
Washington, DC Member

A master class in using cinematic techniques to make what could be a deadly dull effort a compelling story. When you consider this is a years-long narrative, consisting of a series of long conversations, and it zips along so well, it’s all the more an achievement.
Washington, DC Member

Like reading an excellent in-depth piece in The Atlantic, with the added power of being in it, with it.
Washington, DC Member

Music Box Films