In "When Fall is Coming", the secrets of the past are harvested in a season of reckoning

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Directed by François Ozon (The Crime is Mine, Everything Went Fine, AFFFF 2022, Summer of 85, AFFFF 2021), When Fall is coming is a gripping film about mistakes, their consequences, and second chances.

Michelle (Hélène Vincent, The Extraordinary, AFFFF 2020) lives a simple life in the Burgundy countryside with her best friend Marie-Claude (Josiane Balasko, Party of Fools, AFFFF 2024) to keep her company. She enjoys going out foraging for mushrooms with Marie-Claude’s guidance and tending to her vegetable garden.

Right from the outset of When Fall is coming, Michelle’s fractured relationship with her daughter Valérie (Ludivine Sagnier, Of Love and Lies, AFFFF 2020) is palpable. When she receives a call from her daughter saying she and her son, Lucas, are coming by car, Michelle is told it’s none of her business when she asks if Valérie is driving her ex’s car. The daughter’s attitude towards her mother is no better in person. Valérie is cold and moody and we don’t know why. When at her house, she criticises her mother for putting on weight and says that old people need exercise. Despite already being given her mother’s Paris apartment, Valérie wants her mother to give her the Burgundy house that she lives in before she dies because she will pay less taxes that way.

After a mushroom lunch, Valérie becomes ill and cuts short Michelle’s time with her grandson because she believes her mother poisoned her. Rather than getting to spend the week with Lucas, she only has that afternoon. Consumed by guilt, and loss, Michelle enters a depression sleeping all day.

It’s by giving Vincent (Pierre Lottin, also in My Brother’s Band at this year’s festival, the series Lupin, and The Big Hit, AFFFF 2021), Marie-Claude’s son some paid gardening work when he is released from prison that she finds a way out. She treats him like a son of her own, even lending him some money to start his own business. Michelle, confronting the estrangement from her daughter and the isolation of aging, finds solace in Vincent’s presence. Vincent, aiming to reintegrate into society and make amends for his previous transgressions, sees the job as a fresh start.

To avoid giving too much away, we’ll leave the rest of the plot for you to discover. All of the characters are shaped by their pasts and the secrets they carry—some more hidden than others—leaving them vulnerable. When Fall is coming unfolds with a quiet intensity, as long-buried secrets and unresolved pasts create simmering undercurrents that threaten to surface.

Hélène Vincent was nominated for the Best Actress César for her portrayal of Michelle in When Fall is coming. We can understand why. She gives a compelling portrayal of a doting grandma who is not quite what she seems. Showing both depth and vulnerability, Hélène Vincent was captivating to watch as the story unfolds. It’s a shame it’s taken this long for Hélène Vincent to take on a lead role, as her talent is undeniable and her portrayal of Michelle unforgettable.

Josiane Balasko is also captivating to watch as Marie-Claude, infusing the character with a mix of warmth and subtle tension. She portrays a character that is rich in history and unresolved emotions. Pierre Lottin delivers an impressive performance as Vincent that captures the complexity of a man trying to rebuild his life after prison, balancing vulnerability with a lingering sense of inner conflict.

Although not on screen for much of the film, Ludivine Sagnier makes a strong impression as Valérie, bringing depth to her strained relationship with Michelle. Her moody, snappy attitude adds layers to the character, conveying a simmering tension that subtly shapes the film’s emotional landscape.

As with most films by François Ozon, his signature style show in When fall is coming as it unfolds gradually, maintaining a deliberate pace that builds both tension and emotional depth.

In When Fall is coming François Ozon explores themes of family, secrets, redemption, and forgiveness. With a captivating cast led by Hélène Vincent, the film delves into the emotional complexities of relationships and personal healing. For those who enjoy reflective dramas, character studies, and films that explore the depths of human connection—especially fans of Ozon’s work—this is a must-see.

4 CROISSANTS

Matilda Marseillaise watched a screener of the film.

When Fall is coming was released in France in October 2024 under the title Quand vient l’automne.

KEY INFO FOR THE ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FILM FESTIVAL 2025

WHAT: Alliance Française French Film Festival 2025

WHERE & WHEN:

19/03 – 23/04 – ADELAIDE
06/03 – 08/04 – BRISBANE
06/03 – 02/04 – BALLARAT, VIC
08/03 – 02/04 – BALLINA, NSW
11/03 – 13/03 – BENDIGO, VIC
07/03 – 02/04 – BYRON BAY, NSW
06/03 – 09/04 – CANBERRA
25/03 – 15/04 – GOLD COAST
03/04 – 13/04 – HOBART
05/03 – 09/04 – MELBOURNE
03/04 – 06/04 – MOUNT GAMBIER, SA
13/03 – 16/04 – PERTH
26/03 – 31/03 – RENMARK, SA
04/03 – 09/04 – SYDNEY
02/04 – 09/04 – VICTOR HARBOR, SA
04/03 – 06/04 – PARRAMATTA, NSW
10/04 – 13/04 – BUNBURY, WA
12/04 – 21/04 – WARRAWONG, NSW