PODCAST| Matt Micucci interviews Xavier Legrand, director of the film Custody.

To listen to the interview, click on the ► icon on the right, just above the picture

Director Xavier Legrand presented his feature debut, Custody, at the 2nd International Film Festival & Awards Macao. The film has been very successful this year and was already celebrated at the Venice Film Festival, where Legrand picked up the award for best director. Custody is, indeed, a powerful film that talks about the horrors of domestic violence. Although Legrand, in this interview, tells us that the film was not inspired by a situation he experienced first hand, it was in his interest to explore this nightmarish situation, which, as he says, is frighteningly common in France. Custody explores the horrors of the patriarchal society in a naturalistic way, and Legrand appears to be completely in control. We ask him about this, as well as the importance of suspense of the film.

Custody:  Myriam and Antoine Besson have divorced, and Myriam seeks sole custody of their 12 year-old son Julien to protect him from a father she claims is violent and abusive. Antoine effectively pleads his case as a scorned man and the appointed judge rules in favor of joint custody. But his disturbed father really does have ulterior motives to regain control of his traumatized ex-wife’s life, and Julien is held hostage to the escalating conflict between his parents. The boy is pushed to the edge to prevent the worst possible outcome.