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Misericordia

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Misericordia

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1h 44m

Drama

Crime

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96%

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91 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

The teasingly entwined ambiguities of love and death continue to fascinate Alain Guiraudie (Stranger by the Lake), who returns with a sharp, sinister, yet slyly funny thriller. Set in an autumnal, woodsy village in his native region of Occitanie, his latest follows the meandering exploits of Jérémie (Félix Kysyl), an out-of-work baker who has drifted back to his hometown after the death of his beloved former boss, a bakery owner. Staying long after the funeral, the seemingly benign Jérémie begins to casually insinuate himself into his mentor's family, including his kind-hearted widow (Catherine Frot) and venomously angry son (Jean-Baptiste Durand), while making an increasingly surprising--and ultimately beneficial--friendship with an oddly cheerful local priest (Jacques Develay). In Guiraudie's quietly carnal world, violence and eroticism explode with little anticipation, and criminal behavior can seem like a natural extension of physical desire. The French director is at the top of his game in Misericordia, again upending all genre expectations.

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Critics Consensus

Navigating a diabolical story with fleet-footed tonal mastery, Misericorida is another superb foray into the dangers of desire from writer-director Alain Guiraudie.

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Jake Wilson

Sydney Morning Herald

However high the stakes, the tone remains strangely equable – as in Alfred Hitchcock’s blackly comic The Trouble With Harry, another autumn movie, where vitality and morbidity are so interwoven it’s impossible to tell them apart.

Rated: 4/5

May 19, 2025

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Misericordia feels like a big metaphysical shrug, sluggish to the point of lethargy.

Rated: 2.5/5

Apr 10, 2025

Full Review

Michael Phillips

Chicago Tribune

The cast finesses the material without a misstep as the pent-up townsfolk orbit around cryptic, magnetic Jérémie, played by Félix Kysyl. P

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 8, 2025

Full Review

Rubén Rosario

MiamiArtZine

Aimlessness spontaneously dovetails into malfeasance in this aggressively weird offering from “Stranger by the Lake” auteur Alain Guiraudie.

May 12, 2025

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Nicolás Medina

Montevideo Portal / Latido Beat

What initially seems to be a reflection on mercy turns into a black comedy loaded with criticisms, or perhaps reflections, about religion, desire and lies. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

May 10, 2025

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A well-baked character-driven story with deadpan humor and intrigue.

Rated: B+

May 3, 2025

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Melissa

A wild film that looks conventional from the outside but the deeper it goes into the lives of the people at the center, the more disturbing revelations surface.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/05/25

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Wayne M

Misericordia is a strange and mysterious film. A compelling film in parts, but also one that I felt ran out of steam towards the end. The film is set in a small town in France. Jeremie has returned after being away for 10 years. He is in Saint-Martial to attend the the funeral of his former employer, a baker in the village. We sense straight away that something is not quite right. Jeremie seems close to the widow in Martine, but her son Vincent seems resentful or jealous of Jeremie. Tensions soon rise when Jeremie decides to stay for a while and potentially take over the bakery business. A crime will soon occur and things are never the same. The film moves slowly, but I was generally intrigued. But I found a strange tonal shift in the last section that I found a bit offputting. But overall there is plenty to recommend here. It's beautifully shot and the acting is first rate. I just felt it didn't quite fulfill its initial promise.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/20/25

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Paul L

This film - I went back to see a 2nd time a day later. It marvels. Felix and the cast are exceptional. Every character could be a case study in what...I don't know. But so damn intriguing. Imagery and camera pans of the woods and village - as a backdrop to the superb acting....I claim this the best film I have seen in 2025. It is a reward to see a film this great! Refreshing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/15/25

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PAUL P

This film keep me guessing - a lot. It was not predictable nor was it stagnant. I found it highly thought provoking and worthwhile. Actually found it refreshing as it stands out - in a deep yet subtle method. Each character one minute seems quite normal and level headed and then like the flip of a light switch, they become twisted and unpredictable. The village is cool. The eye contact at bedtime - across the hallway - between mother and Jeremy was uber creepy

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/10/25

Full Review

MB C

Misericordia is a muted French drama that promises emotional complexity but delivers little beyond stagnant melancholy. The film explores repressed desires and buried guilt within a small rural community, yet its heavy-handed dialogue, sluggish pacing, and emotionally detached performances create a distancing effect. Visually, it captures the quiet beauty of the countryside but lacks any striking cinematic vision. Ultimately, Misericordia feels like a slow drift into existential ambiguity, offering more questions than rewards.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/01/25

Full Review

Writers In T

I wasted enough time watching this incredibly well made POS. I don't need to retraumatize myself here,

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/09/25

Full Review

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Alain Guiraudie

Director

Félix Kysyl

Actor

Catherine Frot

Actor

Jacques Develay

Actor

Jean-Baptiste Durand

Actor

David Ayala

Actor

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Miséricorde: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The teasingly entwined ambiguities of love and death continue to fascinate Alain Guiraudie (Stranger by the Lake), who returns with a sharp, sinister, yet slyly funny thriller. Set in an autumnal, woodsy village in his native region of Occitanie, his latest follows the meandering exploits of Jérémie (Félix Kysyl), an out-of-work baker who has drifted back to his hometown after the death of his beloved former boss, a bakery owner. Staying long after the funeral, the seemingly benign Jérémie begins to casually insinuate himself into his mentor's family, including his kind-hearted widow (Catherine Frot) and venomously angry son (Jean-Baptiste Durand), while making an increasingly surprising--and ultimately beneficial--friendship with an oddly cheerful local priest (Jacques Develay). In Guiraudie's quietly carnal world, violence and eroticism explode with little anticipation, and criminal behavior can seem like a natural extension of physical desire. The French director is at the top of his game in Misericordia, again upending all genre expectations.

Director: Alain Guiraudie
Producer: Charles Gillibert
Screenwriter: Alain Guiraudie
Distributor: Sideshow / Janus Films
Production Co: CG Cinéma
Genre: Drama, Crime
Original Language: French
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 21, 2025, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $180.9K
Runtime: 1h 44m

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