Quarxx’s ‘The Ones Who Grieve’ Sets North American Premiere at Fantastic Fest
French filmmaker Quarxx is bringing his latest feature, The Ones Who Grieve, to Austin this month, with the period horror drama set to make its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest on Sept. 18.
Set at the end of the 19th century, the 115-minute French-language film centers on Zélie, a 17-year-old living on an isolated farm under the oppressive authority of her deeply religious father, Jacob. Beyond the confines of the family home, a mysterious disease known as the “Black Veil” is spreading across the countryside, creating an environment in which illness, religious conviction and growing paranoia begin to intersect.
As Zélie struggles against her father’s control, the film uses its period setting to explore the relationship between family, religion and authority. According to Quarxx’s director’s statement, the 19th-century setting functions as more than historical backdrop, with family, religion and science presented as systems capable of transforming intimate violence into accepted social behavior.
The Black Veil adds a more ambiguous element to the story. Rather than providing a single explanation for the phenomenon, the film allows it to be interpreted as divine punishment, disease or evidence of a society undergoing profound change. Quarxx describes the film’s fantastic elements as deliberately remaining at the margins, with the larger focus placed on control, inherited trauma and Zélie’s resistance.
Thierry Frémont stars as Jacob, with Zélie Rixhon playing Zélie. Isabelle Anciaux portrays Emilie, while Jean-Baptiste Maunier plays Gabriel.
Quarxx, a multimedia artist whose work spans film, photography and painting, previously brought films to festivals including Sundance, Fantasia, Fantastic Fest, Sitges, BFI London and Tallinn Black Nights.
The Ones Who Grieve is produced by Isabelle Guenezan and Martine Melloul, with Vladimir Féral serving as co-producer. Transgressive Production and Kali Pictures are the primary production companies, with ASM Films serving as co-production company. Antoine Carpentier serves as director of photography, Benjamin Leray composed the score and Remy Orth edited the film.
The Fantastic Fest screening gives the completed film its North American introduction as the production continues seeking distribution. The festival appearance also brings Quarxx back to an event that has previously screened his work.
The Ones Who Grieve makes its North American premiere Sept. 18 at Fantastic Fest in Austin.
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