By the Grace of God

François Ozon’s new film adapts a fresh-from-the-headlines story about a series of child abuse cases attributed to a senior priest in the Catholic church, the archbishop of Lyon. However, the film focuses less on the details of the case and more on the process of healing from past traumas as experienced by its main characters. Three childhood friends, now 40-years-old, meet again against the backdrop of their childhood ordeals, and look back upon their past in order to better understand their current relationships, both familial and professional. By the Grace of God, which won the Grand Jury prize at Berlinale this year, is an effective drama based on precise casting and a narrative filled with empathy and grace.