A plodding drama that traps [Catherine Deneuve] in a one-dimensional grieving mother role.

The film frequently dips into unintentional absurdity, yes, but it also captivates, thanks to the powers of the Gallic film-world heavyweights Benoît Magimel and Catherine Deneuve.

The director’s palliative need for drama often snuffs out the very truths that “Peaceful” vows to restore to the process of dying.

The movie never shies away from showing his pain. But it struggles to identify emotional moments within the narrative.