Time to Leave

Time to Leave (Le Temps qui reste) is a 2005 film by director François Ozon. Ozon is a French director that belongs to the post-New Wave movement in French film and is known for genius short films. A staple of his films is exploring human sexuality in ways that are at times lighthearted and fun, like in Water Drops on Burning Rocks where two male lovers interact with a former female fiancée and a former boyfriend who is now a M2F transsexual, but at other times deeply disturbing, like in See the Sea.

A scene from Water Drops on Burning Rocks:

Sexuality takes a bit of a back seat in Time to Leave were the main character is a 31 year old gay man who does interact with his boyfriend but the real focus of the film is death. Yes this film is about death. It is depressing and I cried but it was well worth the sadness you may feel because this movie is so well done. In Time to Leave, Romain is given three months to live after he is diagnosed as terminally ill. Romain decides to take his three months and tries to exit the world quietly and with dignity. The acting in the film is phenomenal as is the directing and pacing. The film deals with death frankly and avoids the nauseating clichés of people in hospitals crowded around a dying loved one and  grand speeches about living life to the fullest. So if you are looking for a sweet Hollywood movie you will not be satisfied. This film instead details the emotional highs and lows of Romain, who is not always a likable character. Death is seen a personal experience that we all must learn to deal with in our own way. The last scene is especially haunting and will stay with you for a long time.

So come check out the film and let me know what you thought about it!