agmtw logo
search

Our Father, the Devil (2023)

Our Father, the Devil (2023)

7.0

A haunting directorial debut that unfolds in a unique psychological drama

Movie

France, United States of America
English, French
Drama, Mystery, Thriller
2023

TLDR

It stumbles in certain moments, and I’m not sure I’m super satisfied with the ending, but Babetida Sadjo… What a performer.

What it's about

After fleeing to France, refugee Marie forged an easy life as a head chef in a small-town retirement home. However, her quiet life is upended by the arrival of Father Patrick, a charismatic Catholic priest who once was the African warlord that slaughtered her family.

The take

There are horrors in the world that people have faced, and if they survive, they live with the trauma for a long, long time. But what happens when the perpetrator of that trauma has moved on? What happens when they resolve to be better, and pursue a different path? Our Father, the Devil is a psychological drama where an African refugee has to deal with seeing the warlord that once destroyed her entire village, but it unfolds in such a unique way, with the riveting Babetida Sadjo living a split life between her chef and caretaking career in the day, and being tormented by the past at night. It’s a fascinating portrait, one that we haven’t seen in a while, of a traumatized refugee granted the rare opportunity to exact retribution.

What stands out

Babetida Sadjo. It’s a difficult role, but she manages to make Marie Cissé feel understandable, even in her darker moments.

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

Laapataa Ladies (2024)

Two brides are accidentally swapped in this refreshing comedy of errors

8.9

Cold War (2018)

A quiet Polish masterpiece with ravishing music and dazzling visuals

9.2

Shéhérazade (2018)

French City of God

8.6

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

A romance from France like no other

8.2

The Intouchables (2012)

An all-arounder French comedy-drama based on a true story

9.6

My King (2015)

A lover heals her knee and her heart in this contemplative drama about co-dependency

7.0

The Secret of the Grain (2007)

The saga of one immigrant's life in Southern France

8.5

He Loves Me… He Loves Me Not (2002)

A unique romantic comedy that takes dark and unexpected turns

7.3

The Namesake (2006)

A moving, multi-generational journey of an Indian immigrant family finding their way in America

8.0

Divines (2016)

Half female buddy movie, half French gangster thriller

9.0

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2024 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.