First you suffer a loss of speech, then comes a rapid cognitive decline and then you develop a craving for human carrion. Finally you’ll be taken to the Masker, who will remove your teeth, stitch your eyes and mouth shut, encase your head in a wooden mask and leave you to die „humanely“ in the wilderness. Welcome to an alternative 19th century France, where a mysterious plague known as the Black Veil ravages the countryside, scientific progress breeds terror and all good Catholics are convinced that the end is near. Among them is Jacob, a self-proclaimed prophet who wields religion as a tool of domination and control. His wife is desperately trying to bear him a son, his daughter Zélia longs for freedom while Jacob himself relishes his role as the cruelest Masker of them all. The Ones Who Grieve is a twisted exploration of how humanity, under extreme conditions, degenerates into pure evil. It is yet another nasty triumph for Quarxx who is becoming well known for his bleak and nihilistic brand of cinema that confronts the darkest parts of human nature. Relentlessly brutal yet beautifully crafted piece of work that has a lot to say about tyranny and resistance. Prepare to be haunted by this story in your worst nightmares.
