Few 2024 films yet to be released theatrically in the US have the same buzz as Alan Guiraudie‘s “Misericordia.” After a remarkable festival tour last year, the latest from the “Stranger By The Lake” director finally hits theaters in NYC and LA next month, with a wider rollout to follow.
And “Misericordia” is a tense, nervy queer thriller in the same vein as Guiraudie’s 2013 masterwork. The film follows a man’s return to his hometown for a former boss’ funeral, but it’s not long before things take a darker turn…
Here’s an official synopsis for “Misercordia,” courtesy of Sideshow and Janus Films:
In MISERICORDIA, the entwined ambiguities of love and death haunt the meandering exploits of Jérémie, an out-of-work baker who has drifted back to his hometown after the death of his beloved former boss. Staying long after the funeral, the seemingly benign Jérémie begins to casually insinuate himself into his late mentor’s family. He lives with the kind-hearted widow and is stalked by the venomously jealous son, while building a strange yet meaningful friendship with a pragmatic local priest. Before long, small-town pleasantries are tangled into a web of violent criminal behavior and erotic physical desire.
“Misercordia” stars Félix Kysyl, Catherine Frot, Jean-Baptiste Durand, Jacques Develay, and David Ayala. Guiraudie also pens the film’s script, with Charles Gillibert producing via CG Cinema.
Guiraudie’s latest had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last year, where it competed for the Queer Palme (read The Playlist’s A+-rated review here). The film then had its North American premiere at Telluride, with further screenings last Fall at TIFF, NYFF, and elsewhere. “Misericordia” received rave reviews from critics through its fest circuit and ended 2024 by ranked at the top of Cahiers du Cinéma‘s annual best films of the year list. It also received 8 nods for this year’s César Awards, and was a finalist as France’s entry for Best International Feature at the 2025 Oscars.
“Misericordia” hits theaters in NYC and LA on March 21 and expands nationwide in the following weeks. Watch a trailer for Guiraudie’s latest below.
