While many explicitly religious films fall short because of too earnest proselytising or alienating aspects of piety, LA NEUVAINE succeeds in presenting simple faith with respect, acknowledging how difficult it is to believe in God in a secular world and in the aftermath of tragedy. When a young man making a pilgrimage of prayer for his dying grandmother encounters a doctor paralyzed by anguish, the interaction leads not to miracles or conversion but to kindness and deep possibilities for hope.
