Must-Watch French Film Rated 4.2/5 Streams Tonight – Best of the Decade!

Miriam and Antoine Besson are amidst a divorce, sharing two children. Joséphine, the older sibling, is nearly an adult, while her younger brother, Julien, is only 11 years old. During the custody hearing, Miriam seeks sole custody, citing her husband’s physical abuse towards their children. Julien himself expresses a desire to never see his father again. Despite these allegations, the court decides on joint custody, forcing Julien to spend every other weekend with Antoine.

Rated 4.2 out of 5

Xavier Legrand’s first feature film, a continuation of his short film “Before Losing Everything,” made a profound impact upon its release in theaters in 2018. With an impressive average rating of 4.2 out of 5 from AlloCiné users, and rightfully considered one of the finest French films of the last decade, “Custody” won widespread acclaim, including four major César Awards for Best Film and Best Actress for Léa Drucker.

Drucker’s performance is notably outstanding, complemented by Denis Ménochet (who is both terrifying and compelling) and the authentic, deeply sincere portrayal by young actor Thomas Gioria.

Prestigious Influences

Three exceptional actors carry this gripping film, which builds tension to an almost unbearable point, blending family drama with elements of thriller and even horror. In the press kit for the film, Xavier Legrand cites three influential films:

“Kramer vs. Kramer, a film about custody rights that deeply affected me. It was groundbreaking in showing a woman relinquishing sole custody of her children and depicted the excruciating pain of separation with sharp accuracy. The Night of the Hunter illustrates how one can ruthlessly manipulate children to achieve one’s ends. The Shining inspired the final part of my film—madness, confinement, terror. Domestic violence can escalate to pure horror, which is what I aimed to portray.”

As subtle, effective, and relentless as the play on words in its title, “Custody” is undoubtedly one of the recent monumental shocks in French cinema. It’s a must-watch on Paramount+ if you have a subscription.

(Re)watch the film’s trailer…