A nondenominational character study that is ultimately more spiritual than religious, this docu-like effort from L’Ennui’s Cédric Kahn follows an apparent no-hoper through a rigorous mountain retreat designed to get addicts off booze and drugs.

It’s also intended to get them hooked on the Catholic church, and the tension between individual growth and groupthink—even the relatively healthy kind—drives the movie into increasingly unpredictable territory. This surprisingly pleasurable Prayer is effective in its mix of nonprofessional actors with veterans, including Fassbinder stalwart Hanna Schygulla as a somewhat twisted sister. Highly recommended.