38/10

Scenario

Returning to Saint-Martil for the funeral of his late boss, Jeremy, who lives with Martine’s widow, is drawn into the disappearance of a sinister neighbor and the shadowy intentions of an abbot. The film was widely considered to be in the official competition for the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, but was instead placed in the sidebar of the Cannes premiere. Misericordia is shot at a leisurely pace, and as filming begins, it’s impossible not to laugh until it reaches its peak in the final shot. With very gentle humor throughout, it tells the story of a quiet man who visits a village to attend the funeral of his mentor. There, he meets his mentor’s wife, son, and a priest, who all seem to be saying something other than what’s on their minds. I love how Misericordia suddenly changes its script to make the audience laugh, and it does it all in an unflinching style. Reminded me of Deerskin (2019) and The Bra (2018). (Screened at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024.)