When Fall Is Coming

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When Fall Is Coming

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1h 42m

Comedy

Drama

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95%

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38 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Michelle is enjoying a peaceful retirement in a Burgundy village, close to her longtime friend Marie-Claude. When her Parisian daughter Valérie drops off her son Lucas to spend school vacation with his grandma, Michelle, stressed out by her daughter, serves her toxic mushrooms for lunch. Valérie quickly recovers, but forbids her mother from seeing her grandson anymore. Feeling lonely and guilty, Michelle falls into a depression... until Marie-Claude's son gets out of prison.

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Critics Consensus

Director François Ozon deftly walks a tonal tightrope with When Fall is Coming, a darkly funny thriller given genuine humanity by Hélène Vincent.

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Zachary Barnes

Wall Street Journal

That it is still worthwhile owes largely to the sympathetic, sinuous performance of Hélène Vincent, in the lead role of a grand-mère who may not be as simply sweet as she first appears.

Apr 4, 2025

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Monica Castillo

RogerEbert.com

François Ozon’s dramatic thriller “When Fall is Coming” is deceptively calm and restrained for all the mystery that arises.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 4, 2025

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David Opie

IndieWire

François Ozon’s crackling autumnal thriller gives Hélène Vincent a well-deserved spotlight in this accomplished thriller.

Rated: B

Apr 4, 2025

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Armond White

National Review

After a career filled with surrealist audacity, Ozon settles for wise contemplation -- a new understated classicism that’s as erotic and startling as his familiar impudence.

Apr 15, 2025

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Robert Horton

The Scarecrow

Almost perfectly balanced between Douglas Sirk-style melodrama, near-subliminal humor, and out-and-out camp. In short, Ozon is getting close to prime Almodovar territory.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 11, 2025

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A.C. Koch

Spectrum Culture

Rather than a story about a plunge, this a story about losing one's grip on the knowable world, the way autumn slides towards darkness and the end of things.

Apr 8, 2025

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Audience Member

This is a quiet thought provoking film, about friendship, loyalty and family ties. The sharply observed depiction of life in rural France is rich with detail and realism. In one scene, with no background music, we simply see Michelle laying the table in readiness for her daughter’s visit. She potters around busily for several minutes, and it is surprisingly compelling.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/04/25

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Jean L. L

A lot of questions, no clear answers. Anyway , if you watch and listen closefully, à lot is given. Real life exploding softly in a quiet village of Burgundy, baguette and béret shaped. Anyway, nobody jokes with wine, love or hate of humanity. The choice contribues to the compréhension. Almost asiatic, on some side.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/07/24

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François Ozon

Director

Hélène Vincent

Michelle

Josiane Balasko

Marie-Claude

Ludivine Sagnier

Valérie

Pierre Lottin

Vincent

Garlan Erlos

Lucas

When Fall Is Coming: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Michelle is enjoying a peaceful retirement in a Burgundy village, close to her longtime friend Marie-Claude. When her Parisian daughter Valérie drops off her son Lucas to spend school vacation with his grandma, Michelle, stressed out by her daughter, serves her toxic mushrooms for lunch. Valérie quickly recovers, but forbids her mother from seeing her grandson anymore. Feeling lonely and guilty, Michelle falls into a depression... until Marie-Claude's son gets out of prison.

Director: François Ozon
Producer: François Ozon
Screenwriter: François Ozon, Philippe Piazzo
Distributor: Music Box Films
Production Co: Mandarin & Compagnie
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 4, 2025, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $39.4K
Runtime: 1h 42m

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