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.
"A haunting portrait of just how broken we all are -- whether it’s the result of our parents’ shortcomings or Eve biting the apple is beside the point."
— Christian Zilko
"Foumbi’s “Our Father, The Devil” manages to take overused themes like trauma and grief and imbue them with every facet of their respective meaning."
— Robert Daniels
An African refugee's quiet existence in a sleepy mountain town in the south of France is upended by the arrival of a charismatic Catholic priest, whom she recognizes as the warlord who slaughtered her family.
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.
Babetida Sadjo. It’s a difficult role, but she manages to make Marie Cissé feel understandable, even in her darker moments.
It stumbles in certain moments, and I’m not sure I’m super satisfied with the ending, but Babetida Sadjo… What a performer.
Oscars
1 win
Spirit Awards
1 nomination
