The new film by Xavier Dolan, The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, will not be screened at the 47th FEST. The film had its premiere at the Toronto Festival last year, after which it was carried back to the editing table, despite the announcement that it would be free for screening at FEST. The date of the world premiere is postponed to the end of March.
This film will be replaced by the new title of the cult French director François Ozon, By the Grace of God (Grâce à Dieu). The FEST audience will have an exclusive opportunity to watch this film immediately after its world premiere at the Berlin Festival, where it will compete for the Golden Bear. By the Grace of God is the eighteenth film of Ozone, and deals with the controversial topic of pedophilia in the Catholic Church. The film follows Alexander, a man in his forties who lives in Lyon with his wife and children, and he finds out that a priest who abused him a few decades ago still works with children. Alexander decides to unite with two more victims in the struggle for justice and freedom from burdens worn for years. Actors in the leading roles are Denis Ménochet, Swann Arlaud and Melvil Poupaud.
The available screenings of the film within the FEST 47 programme are the following: February 23, 10 PM, Kombank Hall; February 24, 2:30 PM, Kombank Hall; March 1, 10:30 PM, Cineplexx UŠĆE Shopping Centre; March 2, 7 PM, Fontana.
