Les éblouis

It is difficult to define or judge the story. At the first sigh, it seems a demonstration against Romano- Catholic Church, in old tradition of French anticlerical spirit . Few scenes are slices of Neoprotestant rituals. But, first, it is a testimony about ten years of life of a young woman, her childhood period between 8 and 18 years old. So, behind reserves, behind the new proves of exces of power/ authority of a part of Romano - Catholicism , definition of faith in profound sense, holes in story, the admirable acting remains the basic certitude. And the most significant virtue., the young Celeste Brunquell, like Camille Cottin and Eric Caravaca being the easy examples in this sense..

This is Sarah Suco's first effort and it deserves your undivided attention ;she wrote the screenplay herself ,it's based on her own experience; she knows what she's talking about.

What can lead the average family to integrate a sect? The father is a teacher , they have four healthy children ,everything shows the perfect family ; Miss Suco does not give any explanation :were they disappointed by the politics ,the traditional religion ,did they want to lend a helping hand ? (in the police station ,the father claims that their community's purpose is to relieve the needy ,but one never sees them feed the poor ).

At first ,the community shows a spirit of mutual aid ;slowly but inexorably,cracks appear in the mirror: because during a little show the elder daughter Camille's clown act makes the audience laugh , the priest,their spiritual adviser, suggests that the young teenager give up the circus school lessons she attends; when her boyfriend calls on them, the mother blames him because he should not wear black ,the color of the Devil; for the priest who runs the community -who looks more and more like a sect - , every sin can be forgiven,but he demands that every sinner be confronted to the whole congregation and beg God's forgiveness ; if he or she does not comply ,they are subject to a sinister ceremony which looks like a terrifying exorcism.

The grandparents try to snatch their family from the clutches of those fanatics who demand everything:the individual does not exist anymore, and must submit to the group , he must give all his worldly things ,his house and his money to the "dove community "; the grandfather feels guilty :" what did I do that was wrong ? " as they turn a deaf ear on him and his wife.

Their elder sister ,Camille , now a teenager, feels there's something wrong in this sectarian way of life which blames and calls into question her desires, her freedom , and ,yep, her human rights and takes little by little a rebel stand : when she was little ,she used to accept the name of the game ,but now she just pretends .And she has not seen the worst yet (it occurs in the final scenes).She sleeps with the boyfriend -with-a -black-T-shirt ,she steals money from the community chest whilst her parents go into retreat in Paray-Le-Monial and take her siblings to a little spree .

This is a very important movie,which was unfairly overlooked by the audience last year; it's a strong indictment of the dangers of a sect ; it's not against religion or its charity organizations who help their fellow men.

All the cast is excellent : Camille Cottin and Eric Caravaca are the "dazzled" parents who do believe they are among God's chosen ones; Darroussin is an amazing spiritual adviser.Young Celeste Bruquell shines ,particularly in her scenes in the police station where she finds it hard to express herself with words .