Autumn is a time for reflection and peace. A chilly, dry season (at least, in areas where climate change hasn’t transformed it into an extension of summer) that invites the cozy comforts of double-knit sweaters and pumpkin spice. Those pretty brown-and-gold leaves change color because they’re dying, though. It’s not a coincidence that the word “autumnal” also connotes “death.”
François Ozon captures both of these moods in the twisty drama “When Fall is Coming” (2024). Set in the beautiful, pastoral Burgundy, France, the film’s early stretches luxuriate in the season’s more pleasant associations. Lead character Michelle (Hélène Vincent) is a kindly octogenarian grandmother who enjoys mostly solitary pleasures. She goes to church, tends to her garden, and forages for wild mushrooms in the woods.
Michelle finds some respite from her loneliness in her best friend Marie-Claude (Josiane Balasko) and her grandson Lucas, whom she dotes on. Her relationship with her estranged daughter, Valérie, (Ludivine Sagnier) is less rosy, however.
Although Michelle has provided for her daughter and even gifted her an apartment in Paris, Valérie is a nigh-comedic caricature of filial resentment. “You’re toxic,” she tells her mother. “Deliberately or not, you’re dangerous.”
The demure Michelle, you see, used to be a sex worker to make ends meet — the first of many unexpected reveals. Valérie “could never tolerate or accept” her mother’s profession.
Ozon is fascinated by his characters navigating the complexities and contradictions of familial legacy, which becomes doubly apparent when Marie-Claude’s ne’er-do-well son, Vincent (Pierre Lottin), gets out of prison and begins working for Michelle. He’s oafish and violent, yet principled and tender in surprising ways.
More complications ensue after a mishap with some sautéed truffles sends Valérie to the hospital. The incident forces Michelle to make some agonizing choices to maintain her relationship with Lucas.
If the film’s domestic melodrama suggests Yasujirō Ozu, its plot is actually closer to Woody Allen’s darkly ironic morality tales like “Crimes and Misdemeanors” or “Match Point.” Like those films, “When Fall is Coming” derives tension from the moral decisions its characters make. How far will they go to preserve their happiness?
The film is nuanced in depicting how relationships between characters shift as they make these difficult choices. Its unexpected years-later epilogue is particularly effective, introducing ambiguities about Valérie’s poisoning (was it intentional?) and homoerotic suggestions about Vincent’s relationship with the now-adult Lucas.
Ozon’s deft command of plotting and tone is sometimes undercut by his schematic dialogue, which is signposted by the film’s title, a curious bit of awkwardly-translated French. Characters directly state their feelings and relationships to an unnatural extent. “We loved each other. It was my fault. We should’ve stayed together,” Valérie’s ex-husband, Laurent (Malik Zidi), states rather mechanically.
The film’s performances are thankfully more organic. Hélène Vincent is an obvious standout. She has an emotional breakdown on a swing set that communicates the film’s emotional stakes far more effectively than its dialogue. Pierre Lottin’s turn as Vincent is another highlight, vacillating between nonchalant and coldblooded with an unsettling ease.
“When Fall is Coming” relishes in characters and a plot that are not what they appear to be. This asks some patience from audiences, who might be put off by its soporific early stretches. But for those inclined to immerse themselves in a work with meticulously layered subtext, Ozon’s film is a must-watch.
Hank Nooney is a Ph.D. candidate in Literature, Media, and Culture at Florida State University.
If you go
What: “When Fall is Coming” presented by the Tallahassee Film Society
When: 3 p.m. Saturday, June 21; and 5 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Where: IMAX Challenger Learning Center at 200 South Duval St.
Cost: $11 general admission, $9 for TFS members and students
Visit: tallahasseefilms.com
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Appearances deceive in tense ‘When Fall is Coming’ | Movie Review
Reporting by Hank Nooney / Tallahassee Democrat
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