Film No. 22. WHEN FALL IS COMING (QUAND VIENT L'AUTOMME) Palace French Film Fest. (2025). 25th March.

 

Film No. 22  (2025)  March 25th.  11:00 AM LUNA LEEDERVILLE, Cinema 1, Leederville.

"You're dangerous. You can not have my son" (Valerie's words cut her mother, Michelle, like a knife cuts through butter).

WINNER: Best Screenplay (Francois Ozon, Philippe Piazzo), Jury Prize at San Sabastian IFF.

Should we be suspicious of a woman Ozon sets us up to like and trust, but whose daughter (who is disdainful of her mother) falls to her death from her own balcony onto a pavement in Paris? I'm still not sure.

Aspects to Franscois Ozon's 22 year old, SWIMMING POOL, have stayed with me. It was a haunting film that left me with more questions than answers. WHEN FALL IS COMING, has Ozon leading us along a familiar path via yet another lady with secrets, Michelle (Helen Vincent), a retiree living a quiet life in a small village in Burgundy. Early scenes have us wondering how drama could evolve from watching Michelle, till her garden, make a call or two and, chop vegetables. Then like a ball of expensive yarn, the complications entwined in her past, her family, and her love for others, slowly unfurl. No soundtrack distractions or cliched signalling, just thoughtful storytelling. Oh - and questions to ponder after the screen goes black!     

Ozon builds the quiet moments which drive his characters. Michelle is a woman of mystery, but Ozon reveals her gently. He's a craftsman with great respect for film lovers who accept the challenge of his work.  10GUMS.