Agnieszka Holland's Olivier, Olivier has been described as "perverse" and "subversive" by some, and as "profoundly religious" by others. It is a family tragedy, a tale of assumed identities and debts that must be repaid.

Made in France in 1992, Olivier, Olivier was based on a newspaper account of the disappearance of a nine-year-old boy in a small French town, and his supposed return as a teenager six years later. When the film was released, some called the film "perverse," "subversive," "shocking and disorienting," and "the transmutation of incest into an acceptable love." Other praised it for its emotional generosity, sensuality, and intellect; they hailed the film as "profoundly religious," praised the director for her psychological storytelling, and even compared her to Dostoevsky.