A French film hailed as ‘masterful’ and ‘convincing’ is captivating audiences, and it’s set to air on the BBC tonight.
All Your Faces is a gripping French drama centred around a restorative justice programme where victims of violent crime engage in supported dialogues with their perpetrators to heal from trauma.
Clocking in at nearly two hours, the film intertwines two narratives. It focuses on one group of victims – Grégoire, Nawelle, and Sabine – who confront their offenders Nassim, Issa, and Thomas in a group session, and another case where Chloé, a victim of childhood sexual abuse, braces herself to face her abuser in a one-on-one meeting.
The film delves into the complex emotions involved in the process and the potential for empathy and healing that can arise from these encounters, with many viewers describing it as emotional and ‘moving. ‘.
Directed by Jeanne Herry, the film boasts an impressive cast including Birane Ba, Leïla Bekhti, Dali Benssalah, Élodie Bouchez, Suliane Brahim, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, and Adèle Exarchopoulos. Herry was inspired to create the film after attending a training course on restorative justice, reports the Mirror.
Unable to attend actual confidential sessions, the training provided the foundation for her script.
Herry made a deliberate choice not to portray the original crimes (robberies, assault), concentrating instead on the emotional and psychological consequences and the lengthy journey to recovery for both victims and perpetrators. The 2023 film has garnered tremendous acclaim for its thoughtful portrayal, with audiences highlighting that it doesn’t feel ‘political’.
Film critic Armond White commended it, writing: “The triumph of All Your Faces confirms our common humanity during this period when social polarization is considered the norm.”
Cinema-goers have expressed similar sentiments and posted their reviews online, awarding it five stars on Rotten Tomatoes. One viewer commented: “Touching, insightful … a movie one must see! Gives hope in humanity and idea how things can/could work. Great acting, interesting story and idea … if you have the possibility, go and find this movie (“Je verrai toujours vos visages” in French). Be moved.”
Another remarked: “A deep dive into the world of restorative justice, a legal approach introduced in France in 2014. Emotionally powerful with central themes of redemption, trauma and forgiveness.”
Another praised it as ‘convincing’ as they shared: “An interesting argument in favor of restorative justice, one that is neither naive nor overtly political. Its suggesting that a kind of dispassionate radical empathy that facilitates honest human connection is what we need and frankly it is rather convincing.”
The film was a massive hit in France, raking in over $9 million and selling more than 1.1 million tickets. It was lauded for its sincere and moving depiction of the restorative justice process, with Adèle Exarchopoulos earning a César Award for her stellar performance.
