TIME TO LEAVE
aka LE TEMPS QUI RESTE

Year: 2005
USA: Strand Releasing
UK: Artificial Eye
Cast: Melvil Poupaud, Jeanne Moreau, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Daniel Duval, Marie Riviere, Christian Sengewald, Louise-Anne Hippeau, Henri De Lorme, Walter Pagano, Ugo Soussan Trabelsi
Director: François Ozon
Country: France
Language: French (English subtitles)
USA & UK: 85 mins
UK Certificate: 18 contains strong sex
USA Release Date: 21 July 2006 (Limited Release - Los Angeles)
USA Release Date: 14 July 2006 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 12 May 2006
US Distributor
UK Distributor
(François Ozon)

Synopsis

Paris-based fashion photographer Romain (Melvil Poupaud) seems to have it all -- a cute boyfriend named Sasha (Christian Sengewald), a beautiful loft apartment and a fast-growing career reputation. When he suddenly passes out during a photo shoot, his first instinct is to suspect he has AIDS. But, the diagnosis is even worse: he has terminal cancer, which has developed to such an extent, even chemotherapy (probably) won't stop it.

Opting to go his own way and with minimal treatment, Romain keeps his prognosis a secret. During a family dinner, he tells some cruel home truths to his single-parent sister Sophie (Louise-Anne Hippeau), much to the distress of his tolerant parents. Back at his loft, he tells Sasha that it's over and that he wants him to move out, a fact Sasha accepts fairly well given their relationship recently hit a lull.

Next, Romain sets off to visit his grandmother Laura (Jeanne Moreau), stopping off at a cafe en route where he has a moment of rapport with the waitress, Jany (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi). When he sees his grandmother, he tells her what's really going on because, as he cruelly but honestly puts it, she'll also be dying soon. Laura, who was an outrageous bohemian in her own day, feels a rapport with her openly gay grandson.

Romain strikes a deal with Jany (who has been trying for a child but has been unsuccessful so far), that will leave something of him behind in the world apart from the photographs he takes and those he is leaving behind. As Romain bears the weight of his knowledge alone, we see him struggle through anger and denial, to reach an acceptance of sorts.