A working-class family in a Normandy town. Francis and his two sons, Matthieu and Eric, work in the same factory. Francis loses his job for smoking a cigarette at work. Disgusted by the unfairness of it, Matthieu appeals to the management and then tries to mobilize their coworkers, especially his brother, without success. Soon after, Francis suddenly dies. Matthieu is convinced it’s suicide. From then on, he wants only one thing: revenge.

A political thriller by actor and director Xavier Beauvois.

Director

Xavier Beauvois

Xavier Beauvois (b. 1967, Auchel, France) is a French actor, screenwriter, and director. His film Don’t Forget You’re Going to Die (N’oublie pas que tu vas mourir, 1995) took the Prix Jean Vigo along with the Cannes festival’s Jury Prize. His generic diversity was confirmed by the unconventional crime drama The Young Lieutenant (Le petit lieutenant, 2005), with a Best Actress César going to Nathalie Baye for her performance in the film. In addition to his own directorial efforts, Beauvois has also worked as assistant to Manoel de Oliveira and André Téchiné, and acted in the latter’s film The Witnesses (Les témoins, 2007). He had a significant role in Benoît Jacquot’s Villa Amalia, which competed at KVIFF 2009. Of Gods and Men was presented in the main competition at Cannes, winning the Grand Prix. –KVIFF