Best of The Fests

THE PRAYER
LA PRIÈRE

• Director: Cédric Kahn
• FRANCE / 2018 / DCP / Colour / 107´ / French; Turkish, English s.t.

• Screenplay: Cédric Kahn
• Director of Photography: Yves Cape
• Editing: Laure Gardette
• Cast: Anthony Bajon, Damien Chapelle, Alex Brendemühl, Louise Grinberg, Hanna Schygulla
• Producer: Sylvie Pialat, Benoît Quainon
• Production Co.: Les Films du Worso
• World Sales: Le Pacte

- 2018 BERLİN Best Actor

The Prayer, which returned with a Silver Bear for Best Actor for Anthony Bajon from the Berlinale where it competed this February, follows a young heroin addict who quests for salvation through prayer. Thomas applies at a remote rehab community at the French Alps, which carries out prayer therapy, and discovers the transforming power of discipline, austerity, work, friendship, and prayer, even though he’s not a believer. In this highly humanistic and touching film, Cédric Kahn tackles the notions of faith, religion, and addiction from a different perspective. Kahn’s previous film Wild Life competed at the 34th Istanbul Film Festival.

This film was a Meetings on the Bridge participant.