All Your Faces

"All Your Faces" (Original Title: "Je verrai toujours vos visages") is a 2023 French drama film directed by Jeanne Herry. The film delves into the complex and emotionally charged world of restorative justice, a practice introduced in France in 2014 that allows dialogue between victims and offenders of crimes in a secure environment. The narrative is structured around two parallel processes.

The first follows a group session involving three victims of violent robberies (Grégoire, Nawelle, and Sabine) and three men convicted of similar offenses (Nassim, Issa, and Thomas). Although their specific cases are not linked, they meet over several months, supervised by professional mediators and volunteers, to discuss the impact of the crimes and the motivations behind them. The second storyline focuses on the individual journey of Chloé, a survivor of incestuous sexual abuse, as she prepares for a mediated confrontation with her brother and abuser, Benjamin, who has recently been released from prison.

Through these intertwined stories, the film offers a profound and nuanced exploration of healing, accountability, and the potential for human connection in the aftermath of profound trauma. It meticulously portrays the delicate and often difficult conversations that unfold, highlighting the anger, fear, hope, and eventual understanding that can emerge from such encounters.

The core meaning of "All Your Faces" revolves around the transformative and healing power of dialogue. Director Jeanne Herry wanted to explore the concept of restorative justice not as a panacea for crime, but as a vital process for humanizing the judicial system. The film suggests that by creating a space for genuine communication between victims and offenders, society can begin to repair the deep wounds caused by violence. It posits that understanding the 'other'—whether it's a victim understanding the circumstances that led to a crime or an offender confronting the real human impact of their actions—is a crucial step towards individual and collective healing. The title, "I Will Always See Your Faces," underscores the indelible mark that these encounters leave on participants, signifying both the haunting memory of trauma and the profound recognition of shared humanity that can lead to forgiveness and reconciliation.

While the film is largely presented as a hopeful exploration of restorative justice, some interpretations question its optimistic portrayal. One could argue that the film presents an idealized version of the process, where breakthroughs and moments of connection are more common than they might be in reality. The structure, especially in the group setting where victims and offenders are not directly linked to the same crime, has been noted as a potential dilution of the core concept of restorative justice, making the emotional resolutions somewhat less direct.

Another perspective could focus on the film's potential to be seen as a form of social propaganda for a specific judicial policy. While sensitive, it unequivocally champions the benefits of the system. A more critical reading might question whether the film adequately explores the potential failures, risks, or ethical complexities of such emotionally vulnerable encounters, such as the potential for re-traumatization of victims. The film focuses heavily on the successes and emotional catharsis, leaving less room to explore instances where the process might not work or could even be detrimental.

"All Your Faces" arrived at a time of significant social and political polarization, offering a powerful counter-narrative focused on dialogue, empathy, and reconciliation. The film brought the relatively unknown practice of restorative justice in France to a much wider audience, sparking public conversation about its purpose and efficacy. By eschewing a documentary style for a realistic, character-driven drama, director Jeanne Herry made the abstract concept of restorative justice tangible and deeply human.

Critically, the film was very well-received in France and internationally, earning an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars on AlloCiné based on 35 reviews and a 100% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes from 7 critics. Critics praised its powerful ensemble cast, nuanced script, and sensitive direction, hailing it as one of the most important French films of the year. The film's success, including its César Award win for Adèle Exarchopoulos and numerous nominations, cemented its status as a significant work in contemporary French cinema. It serves as a compelling cinematic argument for the value of communication and understanding in a world increasingly defined by division and conflict.

Audiences largely embraced "All Your Faces," captivated by its powerful performances and emotionally gripping subject matter. The film was praised for its realistic and sensitive handling of the difficult topic of restorative justice, with many viewers finding it both thought-provoking and deeply moving. The strength of the ensemble cast, particularly the performances by Adèle Exarchopoulos, Gilles Lellouche, and Leïla Bekhti, was frequently highlighted as a key reason for the film's impact. Viewers found the film to be an intense and sometimes draining experience due to its heavy emotional content, but ultimately a rewarding one that fosters empathy and offers a hopeful perspective on healing and reconciliation. The main point of criticism, though minor, was from some who felt the film's structure, particularly the use of two parallel but distinct restorative processes, could be slightly disjointed at times. Overall, the verdict was overwhelmingly positive, with audiences recognizing it as a significant and necessary film.