Oh Mercy (Arnaud Desplechin)

[Cremildo]

French auteur Arnaud Desplechin switches things up a bit for his tenth feature film Oh Mercy (previously known as Roubaix: a Light/Roubaix: Une Lumiere), a crime drama/character study based on a 2002 true story from the filmmaker’s hometown.

Desplechin is one of France’s most beloved contemporary directors, having competed five times in the Cannes competition (La Sentinelle, 1992; My Sex Life…or How I Got Into an Argument, 1996; Esther Kahn, 2000; A Christmas Tale, 2008; Jimmy P., 2013), programmed once in Un Certain Regard (2003’s Playing ‘In the Company of Men’) and a contentious premiere for 2015’s My Golden Days at Cannes 2015, a film which would win him a Cesar for Best Director. In 2017, Desplechin’s Ismael’s Ghosts opened the festival out-of-competition. Desplechin has competed once at Venice, with 2004’s Kings and Queen.

Co-written by Lea Mysius, Roschdy Zem stars Police Chief Zouad, who along with rookie cop Louis (Antoine Reinartz), are confronted one Christmas night by the murder of an old woman. The woman’s neighbors, Claude and Marie (Léa Seydoux and Sara Forestier), who appear to be alcoholic, drug-addicted lovers, might have something to do with her demise. [SOURCE]