Custody

Jusqu’à La Garde

MS14

Genre

Drama

Director

Xavier Legrand

Run time

1h 34min

Cast

Denis Ménochet, Léa Drucker

An almost unbearably-tense, no-holds-barred drive through the nightmare of domestic terrorism, „Custody“ is a can’t-look-away hybrid of gruelling reality and heightened ­cinematic technique. The mix is jarring, as intended, and this wrenching, heart-stopping film illustrates domestic violence and obsession in a way that makes the fear real. Yet the director also cites „The Shining“ and „Kramer Vs. Kramer“ amongst his influences, and they’re easily identified here too. This is a dynamic feature debut from France’s Xavier Legrand.

The film starts at a magistrate’s court, where Antoine and his wife Miriam, with their representatives, are engaged in a bitter custody battle. Somebody is lying to the judge, who makes an abrupt decision with far-reaching consequences. As Antoine starts to exercise his parental rights over the young boy – to the child’s obvious dread – „Custody“ is barely watchable: the distress shown by young actor Gioria is anxiety-inducing and almost too raw and real for a film. But all the while, Menochet’s Antoine is beginning to reveal himself, and it’s a familiar portrait to anyone who has ever encountered obsession and domestic violence.

Fionnuala Halligan, Chief Film Critic, Screen Daily

Genre

Drama

Director

Xavier Legrand

Run time

1h 34min

Cast

Denis Ménochet, Léa Drucker

An almost unbearably-tense, no-holds-barred drive through the nightmare of domestic terrorism, „Custody“ is a can’t-look-away hybrid of gruelling reality and heightened ­cinematic technique. The mix is jarring, as intended, and this wrenching, heart-stopping film illustrates domestic violence and obsession in a way that makes the fear real. Yet the director also cites „The Shining“ and „Kramer Vs. Kramer“ amongst his influences, and they’re easily identified here too. This is a dynamic feature debut from France’s Xavier Legrand.

The film starts at a magistrate’s court, where Antoine and his wife Miriam, with their representatives, are engaged in a bitter custody battle. Somebody is lying to the judge, who makes an abrupt decision with far-reaching consequences. As Antoine starts to exercise his parental rights over the young boy – to the child’s obvious dread – „Custody“ is barely watchable: the distress shown by young actor Gioria is anxiety-inducing and almost too raw and real for a film. But all the while, Menochet’s Antoine is beginning to reveal himself, and it’s a familiar portrait to anyone who has ever encountered obsession and domestic violence.

Fionnuala Halligan, Chief Film Critic, Screen Daily

Info

Rating

Under 14 Not Recommended

Production year

2017

Global distributor

Celluloid Dreams

Local distributor

Must Käsi 2 OÜ

In cinema

5/4/2018