One Might Consider Walking Out on ‘Misericordia’ Were It Not Such an Engrossing Experience
Alain Giraudie’s blithe disregard for everyday logic — that is to say, common purpose and consistency of character — will likely prove distasteful or ridiculous to many.
Somewhere Patricia Highsmith is smiling. Alain Guiraudie’s 10th feature film, “Misericordia,” is very much like the late novelist’s writings and the author herself — that is to say, something of a nasty piece of work. The sundry miscreants and psychopaths floating through Highsmith’s amoral cosmos are similar to those in Mr. Guiraudie’s world: They have little regard for social niceties or the rule of law. It’s a fascinating place to visit but you wouldn’t want to live there.
Misericordia stems from the Latin words for “wretched” and “heart,” connoting a compassion leavened by forgiveness. Mr. Guiraudie employs the phrase largely to undermine it, warping its generosity of spirit by means of cheapjack irony. His movie is described as a “tantalizing thriller,” and it is suspenseful, but the thrill factor is superseded by a comedic bent so deadpan and dark that it risks alienating the casual viewer.
A login link has been sent to
Enter your email to read this article.
Get 2 free articles when you subscribe.
