Synopsis
A son in denial of a serious illness. A mother facing the unbearable. And between them a doctor fighting to do his job and bring them to acceptance. The three of them have one year and four seasons to come together and understand what it means to die while living.
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Cast
- Catherine DeneuveCrystal
- Benoît MagimelBenjamin
- Cécile de FranceEugénie
- Gabriel SaraDr. Eddé
- Oscar MorganLéandre
- Lou LamprosLola
- Melissa GeorgeAnna
- Clément DucolWilliam, le musicothérapeute
- Olga MouakGladys, l'infirmière
- Marc FauveauLe jeune notaire
Recommendations
- 60
The New York Times
The film frequently dips into unintentional absurdity, yes, but it also captivates, thanks to the powers of the Gallic film-world heavyweights Benoît Magimel (playing Benjamin) and Catherine Deneuve. - 50
TheWrap
That Peaceful occasionally takes us out of the patients’ world and into the emotional strain put onto the nurses and other doctors is a deft way of showing how cancer affects all. - 50
Screen Daily
Unfolding over the course of a year, and divided into seasons, the film digs deep into the psychology of dying but is curiously unmoving, despite milking every last cancer-afflicted frame for sentiment. - 50
Variety
The film is too emotionally blunt not to wring tears (or at least a solid lump in the throat) where required, though they don’t always feel artfully earned. Either way, at over two hours, it’s a long trudge toward an inevitable end. - 50
IndieWire
The director’s palliative need for drama often snuffs out the very truths that Peaceful vows to restore to the process of dying. Where is the tedium of sickness? The discomfort of suffering? The banality of waiting for it to be over? - 50
RogerEbert.com
While the filmmakers certainly have their heart in the right place, aside from maybe a plea for more compassionate medical professionals, nothing about Peaceful is very original or even entertaining.
