Jusqu’a la garde (2017)

Directed by: Xavier Legrand | 90 minutes | drama | Actors: Léa Drucker, Denis Ménochet, Thomas Gioria, Mathilde Auneveux, Mathieu Saikaly, Florence Janas, Saadia Bentaïeb, Coralie Russier, Sophie Pincemaille, Emilie Incerti-Formentini, Jérome Care-Aulanier

In ‘Jusqu’à la garde’ exes Miriam and Antoine Besson see each other in court after their divorce. The custody of eleven-year-old Julien is being challenged because father Antoine does not agree with his son’s visitation arrangements. Since he and Miriam broke up, he barely sees Julien and his adolescent eighteen-year-old daughter Josephine also ignores him. Both children live with Miriam, who makes contact with their father even more difficult by portraying Antoine as violent and hot-tempered.

The two lawyers make their pleas, with which both sides are dealt serious blows. Antoine’s bet is shared custody, but due to the insinuations bordering on abuse from both mother and the children, he is 10-0 behind. Antoine’s lawyer refutes these unproven accusations and tries to wipe the image of a irascible father and ex-husband. Family and colleagues describe her client as calm and well-balanced. Antoine’s situation is dire, because he has been forced to sell his house to live closer to his children, which results in him sleeping in his van. The female judge reacts unfazed and closes the session. The verdict will follow later.

The judge decides in Antoine’s favor and, relieved, he goes to pick up Julien for a long cherished father-son weekend. But conviviality and a relaxed atmosphere are hard to find. The more time passes, the more Antoine gives free rein to his frustrations. And the building tension within this French family makes one thing crystal clear: was Miriam right about her ex-husband or is she playing a formidably false role of the offended woman in front of her children?

Let’s say a movie about divorced parents often tells a predictable story. In today’s society, fathers often fall short when it comes to fair distribution of visitation arrangements or say in the day-to-day lives of children of divorce. But director Xavier Legrand (‘Avant que de tout perdre’) plans his strategy differently in ‘Jusqu’à la garde’. You are first carried away in Antoine’s frustration and more than once you would like to encourage him.

The side of the troubled father is well exposed and Denis Ménochet (‘Inglourious Bastards’, ‘The Program’) knows what to do with this fierce role. He looks like a gentle giant, but whether that is quite right will be shown. The acting performance of the brand new child actor Thomas Gioria who plays Julien is very moving and incredibly convincing. The drama ‘Jusqu’à la garde’, originating from France, is a disconcerting human film with a tough side that perfectly illustrates the deception of a confrontational divorce and the powerlessness of a ruined family life.