Time to Leave

Time to Leave () is a French drama from 2005, both written and directed by François Ozon. The film was showcased in the category during the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.

Plot

Romain, a 31-year-old fashion photographer who is openly gay, discovers he has a terminal illness caused by a metastasized tumor, with only a three-month prognosis. He opts out of treatment due to the minimal chance of survival, estimated at under 5%.

Demonstrating self-centered and impulsive conduct, Romain strains his relationships, pushing away his partner Sasha and creating tension with his sister. His grandmother Laura remains the sole person he confides in regarding his condition.

Cast

• Melvil Poupaud portrays Romain
• Jeanne Moreau appears as Laura
• Valeria Bruni Tedeschi plays Jany
• Daniel Duval acts as the father
• Marie Rivière takes on the role of the mother
• Christian Sengewald as Sasha
• Louise-Anne Hippeau as Sophie

Awards

At the 2005 Valladolid International Film Festival:

• François Ozon received the Silver Spike
• Melvil Poupaud won Best Actor

Critical reception

Critics generally responded favorably to the film. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 75% approval rating from 55 critiques, averaging 6.6/10. The summary highlights it as "a contemplative examination of mortality through the perspective of a middle-aged French man, Time to Leave evokes emotion without resorting to clichés and creates a memorable impact." Meanwhile, Metacritic assigns it a score of 67 out of 100 based on 21 reviews.

Moira MacDonald from The Seattle Times characterized the film as "a subtle and moving portrayal of a life fading away, observed through the lens of a protagonist who may not always be likable but remains utterly authentic."

External links

• Review by A.O. Scott in The New York Times
• Interview with François Ozon about the movie