The prolific French director Francois Ozon ("8 Women," "Swimming Pool") tackles an emotionally bruising and factually-based story about a pedophile priest and the efforts of his former victims to see him defrocked. Ozon takes a fascinating, daisy-chain approach to the narrative (which takes place since Pope Francis became the Holy See), initially focusing on one character, Alexandre (Melvil Poupaud), and the latter's exasperation with a foot-dragging cardinal (Francois Marthouret) who makes empty promises about dealing with a 70-year-old, criminal priest, Preynat (Bernard Verley). Preynat is widely known to have sexually abused many young boys—including Alexandre during his childhood—under Preyant's charge at annual summer camps. Alexandre eventually turns to the police despite his case falling outside a statute of limitations. But news of his allegations inspires others to come forward. Ozon essentially leaves Alexandre behind for a long stretch, turning the movie over to another of Preynat's previous victims, and then another and another. This chapter-by-chapter strategy proves effective in underscoring what a wrecking ball pedophilia perpetrated by a priest can be in devoutly Catholic families who disagree with one another about the wisdom of going forward with the truth. "By the Grace of God" has an efficient, docudrama look and feel, modest in style but moving along at the kind of strong clip that catches a viewer up in a matter of justice and human rights. Ozon adds interesting shading to the bonding of these characters as they set out together to take Preynat down. In the end, the group proves to be comprised of individuals with their own agendas and self-interested needs, underscoring the range of damage done by the scandal of abusive priests. Strongly recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (T. Keogh)