159. Custody (Jusqu'à la garde); movie review

CUSTODY (JUSTQU'A LA GARDE)
Cert 15
94 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong threat, language, domestic abuse theme

Blimey. Mrs W and I were absolutely riveted during the final stunning scenes of Xavier Legrand's
superbly crafted family drama, Custody.
This is evidence that dramas can grab as hard as any thriller, providing that the writing is compelling and the cast have the ability to translate every nuance.
Such is the case with Custody which gradually builds into a terrifying crescendo.
Legrand's movie begins in what must be a typical family division court hearing where lawyers for two estranged parents fence verbal swords to persuade a judge of the destiny of their clients' offspring.
In this case, the judge (Saadia Bentaïeb) admits that, in choosing between mother and father, she has to decide "who is the biggest liar".
Mrs W and I wondered how, in such circumstances, judges can be expected to make the correct decision and it gave us understanding for when they make the wrong one.
I digress. In this instance it is decreed that 11-year-old Julien (Thomas Gioria) will stay with his father (Denis Ménochet).
Meanwhile, his mother (Léa Drucker) and near-adult sister (Mathilde Auneveux) refused to have anything to do with "that man".
The consequence is that the boy is used as an emotional football by a father who cannot accept he is out of the family picture.
We totally bought into the characters of the highly-charged parents thanks to the representations of Ménochet and Drucker. Both, in their own ways, feel very real.
But it is Gioria whose image leaves an imprint on the soul. He is so outstanding that, even though we knew we were watching a film, our hearts bled for him.
I shall write no more other than to say that this really is a must-see and I am guessing that if you are from a split home or know someone who is, it will resonate even more than it did with us.

Reasons to watch: Utterly riveting family drama
Reasons to avoid: It really is upsetting in parts

Laughs: None
Jumps: Two
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 9/10

Director quote - Xavier Le Grand: "Three films guided me in the writing: Kramer vs Kramer, Night Of The Hunter and The Shining. I then forgot about them during the shoot but they

helped me reflect on the themes I wanted to tackle and to find the moods and atmospheres I wanted my characters to move through."

The big question - Have any children remained unaffected through a divorce?

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