Misericordia: this film, by Alain Guiraudie, tells the story of a young man who goes back to a small French town in the mountains for the funeral of his mentor and friend; when he starts to linger around, tempers flare and the unexpected happens. The film’s general tone, however, is colder and darker than the colourful poster may suggest. The protagonist, played effectively by Félix Kysyl, is a bit of a cipher, particularly in the first half of the film; in any case, he is not a sympathetic character, even if he is mildly interesting. The performances are generally subdued and effective; Catherine Frot, as the widow, Jacques Develay, as the town’s priest, and David Ayala, as an old quasi-friend, are all quite good. Cinematographer Claire Mathon’s camerawork is elegant and somber, unafraid to use the dark.