Our Father, the Devil

I can't say much more than other reviewers have already covered on this film. The acting is superb and the story is an engaging slow burn. If you're expecting a Tarantino style revenge flick that's loaded with over-the-top gore, this is not one of those films. It focuses moreso on the deeply embedded struggles of people who suffer through extreme levels of trauma and the need to heal from their past.

The main focus of the film centers around moral ambiguity and begs the question: can people who have done terrible things be redeemed? Is revenge the solution that will heal your troubled mind or make it worse? The film does an incredible job of not only empathizing with all parties involved and keeps you guessing what happens next. The only divisive thing I found about this film is the ending, which you may or may not like. I found it to be a bit too cliché (pun intended for French film lol), but still highly recommended!

They say it's never too late to do the right thing. But how far does that extend? Does it include, for example, atoning for the heinous crimes of a ruthless warlord responsible for the brutal murders of entire villages? Or must such a monster be forced to pay heavily for his crimes? And, in the midst of a debate like this, what would Jesus say? Those are the heady questions raised in this gripping drama about an African woman (Babetida Sadjo) who escapes the vicious atrocities of a cold-blooded strongman after he kills her family and starts her life over as a chef at a nursing home in France. But, when a new priest (Souleymane Sy Savane) unexpectedly shows up at the senior facility, she's thrown back into the terror of her past when she recognizes the cleric as the man who took her life away from her. What is she to do? How is she to cope? And how will she handle the situation? That's the story that plays out in writer-director Ellie Foumbi's brilliant debut feature, a gripping tale that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. The picture's mutilayered narrative keeps viewers (and characters) guessing, almost as if both are being toyed with by the filmmaker, but this is carried out so skillfully that one can't help but remain riveted. The story is effectively fleshed out by the film's superb ensemble cast (especially the two leads), backed by inventive cinematography, exceedingly clever film editing, a fine background score, an array of subtle touches and a surprising amount of strategically placed, well-executed comic relief. Admittedly there are some modest pacing issues in the middle, but they're usually employed to set up one of the picture's many smartly developed plot twists. This 2022-23 Independent Spirit Award nominee for best feature, as well as the recipient of many film festival award wins and nominations, is a well-kept cinematic secret that genuinely deserves wider attention, both as a thoughtful meditation and as an engaging drama. It's playing in limited release, but it's well worth the effort to search it out.

The IMDB summary pretty much gives away the storyline and is close to a spoiler. Marie, played by the superb actress, Babetida Sadjo, works in a Catholic nursing home where a priest arrives, causing her to remember some nasty events from childhood. Father Patrick gives uplifting sermons to the residents of the home.

Marie then recalls a past involving warlords who destroyed a village and killed most of the adults, including her mother and father. The holy man might have some explaining to do regarding what he was up to before joining the flock.

What follows is a serious look at the meaning of forgiveness and redemption, a major tenet of the Catholic church. I have not been to Confession for a long, long time but being raised in the faith gave me a greater appreciation for this film.

Nominated for Best Film at last year's Spirit Awards. Ellie Foumbi's searing French movie OUR FATHER, THE DEVIL centers on Marie (Babetida Sadjo), an immigrant from Guinea, who seems to be doing fine as the head chef of a Nursing home. That is, until a new priest, Father Patrick (Souleymane Sy Savane) starts preaching at the facility. Marie immediately has a physical reaction to his presence. She's convinced he's an evil criminal from her homeland.

Foumbi's feature isn't a whodunit, nor a crime film, it's an exploration of the soul. Once Marie and the Father engage, it becomes a battle of not only wills, but of ethics and morality. When is one's pursuit of justice veer into revenge? Can there ever be redemption no matter how heinous one's past is alleged to have been?

Sadjo and Savane are quite strong as the dueling protagonists, with solid support from Jennifer Tchiakpe and Maëlle Genet. Foumbi's script occasionally becomes too consciously conventional in its telling, but the last act becomes intensely focused and gruelingly intense. A disturbingly serene ambiance makes it all more powerful. Without showing a single moment of actual military action, OUR FATHER, THE DEVIL reveals the grim toll of a civil war.

This was an excellent movie. I love independent films. I had to turn away from the sex scene. But I just loved this idea of this theme of redemption. Can you be redeemed or forgiven after doing the most horrible things. How do you live with it? I kept wondering if she would exact the ultimate revenge. And if nothing else, this story shows what it means to be a friend to someone when they are doing something so horrible. I had tears in my eyes at the end. I highly recommend this movie. Watch it with others so you have something to talk about afterwards over coffee or dinner. Great job by Ellie.