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Crime drama

By the Grace of God (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

By the Grace of God (2019) movie poster

By the Grace of God is a 2019 crime drama directed by François Ozon, starring Melvil Poupaud as Alexandre Guérin, Bernard Verley and Martine Erhel. It runs 2 hours 17 minutes and earned $7.8 million worldwide. Critics gave it 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.7/10.

IMDb rating
8.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
96%
worldwide gross
$7.8M
Echo Score
70
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By the Grace of God (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 17m (137 min)
Director
François Ozon
Genres
Drama , Crime
Original language
French
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is By the Grace of God About?

The premise of By the Grace of God without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Three men, deeply affected by childhood abuse inflicted by a priest, come together to expose the truth and break the silence that has shielded their abuser. The film explores the profound and lasting impact of this trauma on their lives and the lives of their families. Through their individual stories, the film reveals the devastating consequences of abuse and reflects a real-life scandal unfolding in France, highlighting the importance of confronting painful truths.

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Cast & crew

By the Grace of God Cast & Characters

Melvil Poupaud leads the cast as Alexandre Guérin, with Bernard Verley as Le père Bernard Preynat and Martine Erhel as Régine Maire. Directed by François Ozon; 13 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in By the Grace of God

· 9 more
From the director

More from François Ozon

More films directed by François Ozon, best-rated first: The Stranger, Under the Sand, Summer of 85 and When Fall Is Coming.

Full filmography
Ratings

By the Grace of God Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave By the Grace of God 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in art & craft (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (55).

70 /100

By the Grace of God Echo Score Breakdown

By the Grace of God is a thoughtfully restrained drama that earns respect for its clear handling of sensitive material despite occasional narrative drag. Critics applaud the director’s controlled approach and the film’s moral focus, while noting an over-reliance on voiceover and some questions about pacing. Users highlight strong performances but remark on a clinical tone that can feel detached. Overall, the film balances integrity with measured pacing, yielding a moderately compelling experience.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, the film displays competent cinematography and editing under a restrained directorial style. Reviewers point to precise camera placements and unvarnished framing that suit the serious subject, although some note the conventional visuals lack the director’s customary flair and feel overly formal. Production design and sound editing are unobtrusive but effective. The overall impression is of solid technical execution tempered by an understated aesthetic.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film benefits from earnest performances that convey the value of each survivor. Critics note respectful portrayals that honor the real-life subjects, and users praise a heart-breaking turn that underscores empathy. However, some find the emotional core somewhat distant, with scenes feeling more like re-enactments than fully immersive drama. The net effect is a credible ensemble that occasionally limits deeper emotional connection.

  • Story & Flow 65

    In terms of story and flow, the relay structure provides clear narrative strands for each protagonist, though the epistolary device can disrupt coherence. Several reviewers observe that the plot slows with ancillary scenes that add color but hinder momentum, while others find the sober pacing steadily builds engagement. The methodical progression reflects the real-time nature of the case but can feel overlong. Overall, the storyline achieves thematic clarity at the expense of tighter pacing.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    When examining the sensory experience, the film’s subdued soundtrack and precise sound design support its clinical tone. Critics appreciate the measured musical cues that underscore key moments, and users note the visual consistency matches the narrative seriousness. The restrained visual style foregoes exuberant color grading, favoring an unadorned palette. This cohesive approach enhances focus on subject matter, though it may feel too austere for those seeking more atmospheric immersion.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s heavy subject and restrained style suggest limited replay appeal. While reviewers commend its importance and the integrity of its portrayal, the measured pacing and documentary-like form may deter repeat viewings. Users mention the lack of emotional warmth and subdued atmosphere can lessen enjoyment after the first experience. As a result, the film leaves a lasting impression conceptually but is unlikely to inspire frequent revisits.

Plot

By the Grace of God Plot Summary

What happens in By the Grace of God from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Alexandre Guérin, a prosperous banking executive residing in the beautiful Lyon region, is depicted as a devoted husband and father of five, deeply entrenched in his Catholic faith, which is shared by his loving family. However, following a conversation with a former scouting companion, he is suddenly thrust into a whirlwind of distressing memories that force him to confront the horrific sexual abuse he experienced at the hands of a pedophile priest, Father Bernard Preynat. Although the statute of limitations has rendered the events officially obsolete, anguish compels Alexandre to embark on a quest for truth and justice.

Full summary

The whole story of By the Grace of God, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

By the Grace of God Box Office

By the Grace of God grossed $7.8 million worldwide. $67,059 came from the US and Canada and $7.7 million (99%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$7.8M

US & Canada
$67.1K
International
$7.7M
US & Canada 1% Rest of the world 99%
Videos

By the Grace of God Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Official Trailer [Subtitled]
  • Trailer Official Trailer 2 [Subtitled]
Quiz

How Well Do You Know By the Grace of God?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Alexandre Guérin's profession?

Details

By the Grace of God Also Known As

23 alternative titles, including “Grâce à Dieu” and “С Божьей помощью”.

Also known as
  • Grâce à Dieu
  • С Божьей помощью
  • Gelobt sei Gott
  • Graças a Deus
  • Gracias a Dios
  • Grazie a Dio
  • По воле божьей
  • 感谢上帝
  • З божої волі
  • 以寵之名
  • Θέλημα Θεού
  • 신의 은총으로
+11 more
  • 感謝上帝
  • Gud være lovet
  • Jumalan armosta
  • Yüzleşme
  • I Guds namn
  • Dzięki Bogu
  • Isten kegyelméből
  • Por la gracia de Dios
  • Z milosti božej
  • グレース・オブ・ゴッド 告発の時, დიდება ღმერთს
  • Gràcies a Déu

Seen By the Grace of God?

FAQ

By the Grace of God FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of By the Grace of God, each answered in a sentence.

How long is By the Grace of God?

By the Grace of God runs 2 hours 17 minutes (137 minutes).

When was By the Grace of God released?

By the Grace of God was released on October 18, 2019.

Who directed By the Grace of God?

By the Grace of God was directed by François Ozon.

More films by François Ozon

Who is in the cast of By the Grace of God?

By the Grace of God stars Melvil Poupaud as Alexandre Guérin, Bernard Verley as Le père Bernard Preynat and Martine Erhel as Régine Maire, among 13 credited actors.

How much did By the Grace of God make at the box office?

By the Grace of God grossed $7.8 million worldwide ($67,059 domestic, $7.7 million international).

How is By the Grace of God rated?

By the Grace of God has 8.7/10 on IMDb, 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic and 81% on TMDB.

Does By the Grace of God have a post-credit scene?

No. By the Grace of God has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is By the Grace of God in?

The original language of By the Grace of God is French.

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