A web of secrets, suspicions, and desires ensnares the inhabitants of an insular French village in this tantalizing comic thriller from ever-audacious auteur Alain Guiraudie. Returning to his rural hometown to attend the funeral of the mentor he loved, enigmatic, sexually fluid drifter Jérémie (Félix Kysyl) stirs up long-simmering feelings of lust, jealousy, and rage among those he left behind—including the dead man’s widow (Catherine Frot), her hot-tempered son (Jean-Baptiste Durand), and a curiously protective local priest (Jacques Develay) with whom Jérémie forges a twisted bond. Amid the evocatively earthy milieu, Guiraudie constructs a slippery, continuously surprising moral universe where love and hatred, eroticism and violence, spiritual grace and mortal sin, are intimately entwined.
For in-depth thoughts on Misericordia, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Misericordia comes to Blu-Ray in an AVC encoded transfer in 2.39:1 courtesy of Criterion Premieres which provides a lush presentation that delicately captures the striking cinematography from Claire Mathon. This striking palette offers a stable and consistent image quality throughout without any obvious deficiencies. This production does not falter with any signs of noise or compression as the imagery comes alive in high definition. Colors are multifaceted and deep when it comes to the landscapes, clothing, and production design. Skin tones look natural throughout the runtime with exquisite detail on display. This transfer achieves an ideal visual presentation on Blu-Ray, and Criterion Premieres continues to impress with modern fare.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original French which flourishes as much as the video side of the equation. The sound design is not overly bombastic, but it is deftly executed for what it is asked to do. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without ever being drowned out by the environmental elements. Activity in the low end is not an attention-stealing part of the experience, yet it yields valuable texture within the world. The score from Marc Verdaguer is showcased faithfully here with a precise use of the surround speakers that retains the required fidelity. The track comes alive with the sounds of nature. The exterior soundscape is filled with little nuances that do an admirable job of transporting you to this space. This is a first-rate audio presentation that brings the movie to life very well. Optional English subtitles are provided.
Special Features
The Criterion Premieres Blu-Ray of Misericordia includes a leaflet featuring the essay “Misericordia: A Tale of Autumn” by Imogen Sara Smith in which she provides some good insight into and analysis of the film that helps highlight the deeper themes on display. The on-disc special features are as follows:
- Meet The Filmmakers: A nearly 18-minute conversation with director Alain Guiraudie in which he discusses adapting elements of this story from a larger novel, how this both connects and differs from his previous work, the balancing of the tones, inspirations for the film, the qualities of the performers, and much more that you will not want to miss.
- Trailer (1:56)
Final Thoughts
Misericordia is a twisty, occasionally absurd crime drama that builds up a colorful array of characters who leave you wondering exactly what outcome would be fulfilling. The joy comes not necessarily from the intrigue around the central crime itself, but rather from what revelations are in store within this unique community. The tonal balance is impressive as you learn more about the people willing to get their hands dirty. It’s a deliciously dark cinematic confection. Criterion Premieres has released a fabulous new Blu-Ray with a beautiful A/V presentation and an informative interview with the director. Recommended
The Criterion Premieres edition of Misericordia is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Criterion Premieres and The Criterion Collection have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
