logo
'Misericordia' Review - A Casually Chaotic Queer Dark Comedy

'Misericordia' Review - A Casually Chaotic Queer Dark Comedy

Logline: A tantalizing thriller unfolds against a pastoral country setting in the latest from French auteur Alain Guiraudie (Stranger by the Lake). Jérémie (Félix Kysyl) returns to his hometown for the funeral of his beloved former boss, the village baker, and decides to stay for a few days with the man's widow, Martine (Catherine Frot). Before long a threatening former rival, a mysterious disappearance, and an omnipresent priest turn Jérémie's short visit into a gathering of the unexpected.
Even the nicest people have a breaking point. No matter how quiet, kind, or seemingly meek you assume someone is, just know that if you push the wrong buttons or strike the right nerve, a delicate and non-threatening Caesar mushroom can actually be a death cap. The analogy will make sense when you watch the film. Not only do people have a limit to how much nonsense they can withstand, but you never know what someone is going through. You may not have to worry about being their thirteenth reason, but you could be their first victim. Be kind and stay alive. 'I think he's completely crazy.'
No matter how careful you are or how sneaky you think you're being, the secret will always eventually be revealed. Written and directed by Alain Guiraudie, Misericordia is a casually chaotic queer dark comedy. With a dash of mystery, a heap of suspense, and more subtle humor than you can handle, this fatal French subterfuge is the hidden gem you want to find. Championing genuinely hilarious and awkward moments along with an affinity for mushroom foraging, the film is loaded with subtext that gets increasingly more outrageous as the story progresses.
Veiled in suspicion and clouded by uncertainty, everyone in this idyllic town seems to be hiding something. There's violence, manipulation, sexual tension, and more than a few lies. And just the narrative gets juicy and truths are uncovered, the most surprising one exposes itself in more ways than one. Our lead, Jérémie, has the most to hide, but with how his life has been going, also the most to gain. Furthermore, as we witness the mystery unfolding from his perspective, you're plagued with one moral conundrum after another. The first instinct is to cut and run, but if Jérémie is for the messiness, then so are we. Come for the drama but stay for the absurdity. 'You'll learn to love me.'
Wrapped and thriving in a Shakespearean essence, this eerily calm enigma is as much about identity as it is about deceit. In some ways, they're intertwined. While some aspects of the film can be interpreted as battling the rejection of your truth, other parts can be seen as an outward projection of internal conflict. With an initial atmosphere and aesthetic that feels cold and aloof, by the end, you'll feel its warm, firm embrace. You'll be left both shocked and entertained. The talented performances drive the experience as the sophisticated yet approachable writing of Guiraudie breathes exuberance into its dry wit. There are some beautiful shots with a set and costume design that feature dark and muted colors, perfectly matching the tone. If you're a fan of Alain Guiraudie's work, this is sure to delight. Its rewatchability is medium. From (L to R) FÉLIX KYSYL as Jérémie, SALOMÉ LOPES as Young Police Officer, SÉBASTIEN FAGLAIN as The Policeman, TATIANA SPIVAKOVA as Annie, CATHERINE FROT as Martine, DAVID AYALA as Walter
Pace & Pop
This film maintains a curious pace and tone for the entire runtime. Combining comedy, mystery, and thriller sensibilities, you never quite know what's coming next. What popped for me was the diabolically reserved nature of Jérémie as casual chaos ensues. From (L to R) Félix Kysyl as Jérémie and Jacques Develay as The Abbot in 'Misericordia'
Characters & Chemistry
Starring: Félix Kysyl, Catherine Frot, Jean-Baptiste Durand, Jacques Develay
This ensemble cast is amazingly effective. Their subtle and layered performances are the lifeblood of the film. The dry delivery, the hungry stares, and the loud, panicked nonchalance are intriguing and hysterical. Between the unraveling psyche of Félix Kysyl's Jérémie and the ever-lingering priest played by Jacques Develay, their performances awaken the film's dangerously adventurous and addictive qualities. Let me not forget the deeply curious and somewhat suspicious performance of Catherine Frot.
Misericordia is now streaming on the Criterion Channel. Stay safe and keep an eye on the sneaky priest.
Rated: NR Runtime: 1h 43m Language: French Director: ALAIN GUIRAUDIE Writer: ALAIN GUIRAUDIE Artistic direction: LAURENT LUNETTA Cinematography: CLAIRE MATHON Production design: EMMANUELLE DUPLAY Costumes: KHADIJA ZEGGAÏ Hair and make-up: MICHEL VAUTIER Assistant Director: FRANÇOIS LABARTHE Sound: VASCO PEDROSO, JORDI RIBAS, JEANNE DELPLANCQ, BRANKO NESKO C.A.S Editing: JEAN-CHRISTOPHE HYM Original score: MARC VERDAGUER Producer: CHARLES GILLIBERT
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Clothes That Celebrate the Elegance of Your Inner Weirdo
Clothes That Celebrate the Elegance of Your Inner Weirdo

New York Times

time2 hours ago

  • New York Times

Clothes That Celebrate the Elegance of Your Inner Weirdo

When Phoebe Philo, the much-celebrated designer of Chloé and Celine, returned to fashion in 2023 after almost six years away, she did so on her own terms: without shows, stores or influencers but with a sense of what she thought some women, though definitely not all women, might want to wear. She called her designs 'Collection A' and talked about the desire for seasons to build on one another rather than replace one another. She seemed to be feeling her way toward something in public view. Now, about two years and, as of Tuesday, four collections into the experiment of a famous designer going out on her own after decades in the safety of big brands, that 'something' is adding up. And not just to attitude, though they have a lot of that. Imagine grown-up clothes with an insouciant practicality that celebrate your inner weirdo. It's a pretty compelling combination — just messy enough, with some purposefully rough edges. If you were a world-class poker player, this is what you might wear. The line has its own identifiable, idiosyncratic vocabulary: oversize pants that seem to drip off the hips (even when they actually don't); big, button-down shirts and big, mannish blazers with oddly feminine curves; asymmetric tops that combine the ease of a T-shirt with trains that trail down the side of a leg; slick leathers and enormous shearlings; a wacko shoe. Each collection offers a variant on the theme, with a surprise or two tossed in. Collection D, which was just revealed and will be available to buy in early 2026, was no different. What was new was the way standard utilitarian pieces were endowed with the drama of a couture silhouette. The sleeves of a cream trench had a ballroom curve, and a wool jacket came ribbed at the waist to create a peplum kick at the back — a sort of new New Look. A few tops had giant washed silk flounces at the hem that were stuffed with organza and then washed again, so they resembled collapsed petticoats. There were the pieces that were actually two, or even three, in one. A crisp button-up shirt, for example, had a detachable collar and cuffs so it could look classically pulled together or architecturally minimal or morning-after undone. A suit jacket could be worn double-breasted, so it pulls in at the waist, or single-breasted, so it hangs with a bit of a swing. A black and white short-sleeve T-shirt with a sweeping train was reversible, and the train could be worn down with a pair of tuxedo trousers or tossed over one shoulder, like a scarf. The looks do what the best fashion does, which is solve a problem. (In this case, how to go from work to black tie without having to change in the office bathroom like Superman. Just drop the train and go.) It's also economic, which, given the fact that the prices are in line with those of other high-fashion brands, is no small thing. On its own those ideas are notable enough, but then there's the … wait, what? Is that an ivory shearling bikini bottom, like something Wilma Flintstone would wear to a christening? Does that tabby-striped chenille onesie really come with its own matching chenille hat with little pointy ears because … well, catsuit? And what about those sheer 'feather' pants that are actually silk and layered over a pair of sheer trousers with a higher boxer waist so it looks as if the top pants are about to slip off? Hello, guys who walk around with their jeans falling down their butt and their Calvins exposed. She'll see you and raise you one.

Tecnifibre Debuts Special Iga Swiatek-Daniil Medvedev T-Fight Racket
Tecnifibre Debuts Special Iga Swiatek-Daniil Medvedev T-Fight Racket

Forbes

time3 hours ago

  • Forbes

Tecnifibre Debuts Special Iga Swiatek-Daniil Medvedev T-Fight Racket

Tecnifibre teams with Daniil Medvedev and Iga Swiatek to create a special-edition T-Fight ID tennis ... More racket. Tecnifibre's two lead tennis athletes share history—both have reached No. 1 in the world and have won a U.S. Open championship—and in a first for the brand, they both also share a racket frame in 2025, the Tecnifibre T-Fight. The French-based tennis company will celebrate all the sharing by creating a special-edition—and colorful—T-Fight ID (the ID stands for Iga and Daniil) making it available at retail on July 23 while also having both Swiatek and Medvedev play with the limited-edition colorway throughout the U.S. Open series. 'T-Fight has been our flagship racket, and we have very much been known for all-white rackets,' Philippe Oudshoorn, Tecnifibre North America brand director, tells me. 'White is a pretty important part of our brand, but we definitely wanted to do something that was different and make it a story about our athletes.' There were no better athletes to focus on than Swiatek and Medvedev, a pair that have worked together since 2020 during brand events while enjoying success on their respective tours. 'Daniil is a funny guy and has an authentic and joyful demeanor off the court,' Oudshoorn says, 'and it really loosens up Iga and you get to see who she is off the court. It creates this pretty funny dynamic.' Tecnifibre going blue for a limited-edition T-Fight tennis racket for Daniil Medvedev and Iga ... More Swiatek. Tecnifibre has seen exponential growth in tennis in the last few years, certainly owing to the success of the two ambassadors, Oudshoorn says. With the quality chemistry they have shown together 'it was the perfect time to do something Tecnifibre has never done before, something not white, dedicated to our athletes and to really tell their story.' The first order of design was settling on a color. Since both players have won a U.S. Open, Tecnifibre took inspiration from the courts of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows to make blue the lead color, which is also a Tecnifibre brand color. To add an accent, and to keep with the U.S. Open theme, they sprinkled in green, doubly inspired by the Statue of Liberty in New York. 'There is a New York City nod from a design perspective,' Oudshoorn says. 'Daniil and Iga were involved in this and they both like the color blue. It is something still very Tecnifibre, but so very different because of the color.' MORE: Tecnifibre's Flagship Racket, The T-Fight, Gets A 2025 Update Medvedev and Swiatek will be the only Tecnifibre athletes using the special-edition colorway this summer. Tecnifibre will release two models at retail, one the 305-gram version Medvedev favors with a 98-square-inch head and an 18x19 string pattern and the other Swiatek's chosen 300-gram racket with a 100-square-inch head and 16x19 string pattern. The rackets feature a green flame logo inspired by the Statue of Liberty, with a '21' inside one flame and a '22' inside the other to represent the years each player won the U.S. Open. A trio of dampeners—a flame, bagel and pretzel—are also available as part of the Tecnifibre T-Fight ... More ID release. Tecnifibre expects this to be a one-off event, making the rackets true limited-edition releases. Along with the rackets, Tecnifibre will debut a blue bag and a set of three special-edition dampeners, a flame inspired by the Statue of Liberty, a bagel inspired by Swiatek and a pretzel inspired by Medvedev. The chemistry between Iga Swiatek and Daniil Medvedev help the co-created T-Fight ID tennis racket ... More come to life. 'This was such a critical piece to the story,' Oudshoorn says of the extra dampener touch. 'I think it is one of the biggest parts of what we created.' He says the dampeners help connect the stories of the two players. While Swiatek's bagel story is well chronicled (and again established with a 6-0, 6-0 victory in the 2025 Wimbledon final), in 2020 Swiatek and Medvedev did a Q&A together and Swiatek described Medvedev's game like a pretzel, which produced plenty of laughter. Just a few days later, Medvedev posted a picture on social media of him holding a pretzel with a big smile, tagging Swiatek in the post. 'Seeing how relaxed they are and how much fun they have together, there is really cool dynamics,' Oudshoorn says. The dampeners, which come in a special box with all three styles, help tie it all together. 'There is just a certain amount of energy that is contagious and comes to life,' Oudshoorn says. 'It has been really fun and so critical for the brand to start marketing our athletes a lot more than just relying on results. It is great for everyone, the brand, Daniil and Iga.' This is also one of the first times a tennis racket promotion has been based on both a male and female athlete at the same time. 'We are all just through the moon to do this with Daniil and Iga,' Oudshoorn says, 'and honor their results and what they have done for the company.'

A Deaf Actress Has a Message She Wants You to Hear
A Deaf Actress Has a Message She Wants You to Hear

New York Times

time3 hours ago

  • New York Times

A Deaf Actress Has a Message She Wants You to Hear

When Rose Ayling-Ellis is lip reading, she's guessing most of the time. 'You can get the shape of a mouth,' she said recently, but to understand what someone is saying, context is everything. 'You have to pick up body language, the mood, the vibe,' she said. Ayling-Ellis, 30, said that learning to lip read had been 'a survival technique.' The actress, who was born deaf, speaks and also uses British Sign Language, and was aided in an interview by an interpreter. In the TV crime thriller 'Code of Silence,' which arrives on Britbox on July 24, Ayling-Ellis plays a deaf woman who is recruited by the police to eavesdrop discreetly. In the show, as in life, she said, lip reading is 'like a puzzle.' When Ayling Ellis's character, Alison, watches CCTV footage of suspected gang members, she scrutinizes their facial expressions and observes how they stand. Like any good detective, Alison must study the scene, piecing together clues. In a clever visual conceit, jumbled subtitles appear onscreen and gradually unscramble as she decodes each sentence. 'Code of Silence' first screened on ITV in Britain in May, and its debut episode drew over six million viewers, according to the broadcaster. Ayling-Ellis was already known to many from 'Strictly Come Dancing,' the wildly popular BBC show that inspired the 'Dancing With the Stars' franchise. She won the show in 2021 with a routine, to Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson's 'Symphony,' that fell silent halfway to mirror her experience of being deaf. That victory made her a household name and landed her TV presenting gigs, including as a sportscaster at the 2024 Paralympic Games. But after being 'on the TV as myself quite a few times,' she said, she wanted to get back to acting. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store