CUSTODY/ JUSQU'A LA GARDE

France, 2017, 93 minutes, Colour.
Lea Drucker, Dennis Menochet, Thomas Gioria.
Directed by Xavier Legrand.

The original French title is not exactly the same as custody. It translates with an overtone of duelling and fight, “to the hilt�.

The English title, Custody, is to the fore right from the beginning of the film, lawyers representing and divorcing husband-and-wife, mediating the case before a judge who is to have custody of the children. Initially, the husband seems somewhat sympathetic, steady job, saying he has reformed. The wife does look the worse for wear. They have a daughter, Josephine, turning 18, a boy aged about 12. The decision for the case is made when a lawyer reads out a letter from the boy, Julian, stating his dislike for his father, not wanting to be with him, upset with his father’s violent treatment of his mother.

The audience sees something of the background of the family, especially the daughter and her boyfriend, her skipping classes, the preparation for her birthday party. But, Antoine, the father, makes an appearance. There is a very upsetting sequence where Antoine virtually abducts his son, travels in the car, demands that his son look at him, the son refusing and weeping. While Antoine has some momentary relenting, he shows that he does not understand why his wife has left him, why she would stop contact with him, prevent his children seeing him.

There is a rather long scene of the birthday party, exuberant friends and relatives, loud music with a beat, Josephine singing a song. Julian is enjoying the party. However, Antoine turns up outside in the car park, stating that he has a gift for his daughter, badgering his wife, declaring his love for her, jealous on hearing that she is seeing someone else, violent.

In fact, the screenplay is fairly straightforward, offering some key sequences in the interactions, culminating in an alarming, frightening episode where mother and son are in their apartment, Antoine continually rings the bell in the middle of the night, breaks in, with a rifle, bellowing and bashing the doors. Interestingly, the neighbour rings the police and, while a squad is on the way to the apartment block, an officer keeps online with the mother, giving directions, telling them to hide in the bath tub, locking and blockading the door…

In an English play on words the film ends with a different meaning for Custody. Antoine is in custody.

A harrowing French illustration of universal domestic violence, violence against women, wives and mothers.


1. The title, the focus? Custody of children? Parenting? The theme of domestic violence?

2. Domestic violence in the 21st century? The role of men, women, children? The courts and decisions?

3. A French story, Paris settings, the streets, the suburbs, apartments, the courts, party scene? The musical score?

4. The opening, the court and the speeches? The different lawyers and their perspectives? For and against? The judge and the role? Custody, Julian’s letter condemning his father, defending his mother? The decision?

5. Antoine, in himself, his work, security, his declaration of reform? His manner in the hearing? His angers, past violence, the reasons? The clashes with his wife, physical violence? The custody issue? The search for his wife and children? Finding Julian, the sequence in the car, his intimidating his son, his son weeping, the issue of the key, the deception about the apartment? Julian running, returning? Going to the home, confronting Miriam? His promises? Going to his parents, shifting his stuff, the invitation to the meal, he is refusing? Outside the party, his gift for Josephine, talking with Miriam, the jealousy of her having a boyfriend, Cyril’s approach? The violence towards Miriam, Miriam’s sister coming and attacking him? Coming to the apartment in the night, the continued ringing of the bell, the rifle, the shots in the door, bashing the door in, the threats, his arrest and protest?

6. Miriam, the long marriage, experiencing violence, her two children, the court, the decision, cutting the contact with her husband? His finding her, his appeal to her, outside the party, the gift for his daughter, her reaction? The support for her daughter, turning 18, her boyfriend, Josephine singing? Cyril and his intervention, her relationship with him? The experience of the attack in the house, the night, the bell, the gun, the police advising her to take refuge in the bath?

7. Josephine, her age, studies, the boyfriend, relationship with her mother, singing at the party? Cleaning up the hall afterwards?

8. Miriam’s family, the support from her sister, condemnation of Antoine by her parents? Support and threats?

9. The police, the intervention, on the phone, in the apartment? Her future? Antoine in custody?