Custody

Xavier Legrand (2017)

Léa Drucker, Denis Ménochet, Thomas Gioria Rated 15 Run time 93 mins

French Weekend

A psychological drama about a bitter custody battle fromactor turned director Xavier Legrand who deservedly won the Venice Film Festival’s Best Director award in 2017. In a drab magistrate’s court, the lawyers of estranged couple Miriam and Antoine debate their clients’ parental rights. It’s a low-key but richly textured opening sequence, which establishes Legrand as an efficient, economical visual storyteller. Fantastic performances as the couple descend into the horror of fanatical jealousy and paranoia.

95% – Rotten Tomatoes
7.5/10 – IMDB

“Legrand in his feature debut shows laudable technical ability and discipline.”

“”Custody” can be difficult, even wrenching to watch, but it always plays fair with the audience, and the experience, worth every minute expended, is impossible to forget.”

Review: A scintillating separation drama – BFI / Sight & Sound

Review: In ‘Custody,’ a father terrorises his family  – The New York Times