75
The film allows the sorrows of losing a life and the joys of saving it to remain congruent.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
80
The Hollywood Reporter by Boyd van Hoeij
Though the film’s two halves aren’t equally as strong, with the second half lacking some of the complexity and breathtaking sweep of part one, this is an impressive step up for Quillevere.
80
Time Out London by Cath Clarke
The medical side of things is shown in documentary detail, and it’s fascinating.
100
It’s Quillévéré’s soaring visual and sonic acumen (with an assist from composer Alexandre Desplat, here in matchless form) that suffuses a potentially familiar hospital weeper with true grace.
50
The New York Times by Jeannette Catsoulis
It’s all just empty calories; what this movie desperately needs is conflict.
90
Los Angeles Times by Kenneth Turan
Heal the Living reveals a gift for joining skillful visual filmmaking with moving, affecting storytelling, all in the service of a story that unfolds in surprising ways.
90
Screen International by Lisa Nesselson
In what is only fitting for a story literally and figuratively embroidered around hearts, the film’s visual and emotional beats are perfectly in synch.
90
At once sorrowful and optimistic, Heal the Living captures the terrifying fragility of life, even as it also recognizes the strength derived from the many connections — organic, emotional, and associative — that bind and define us.
80
Quille?ve?re? has created a poignant exploration not just of death, but of life, love and fragility.
100
RogerEbert.com by Sheila O'Malley
Heal the Living is director Katell Quillévéré's third feature, and shows her humane vision of the interconnectedness of humans and the fragile miracle of life. The plot comes straight out of any hospital-based episodic, but it's Quillévéré's approach that is so unique, and ultimately, so powerful.