Ozon's Masterpiece

Francois Ozon's new film "Time to Leave" (Le Temps qui reste) is, as I posted earlier today, the most beautiful film of the festival. When I first read about the film, it was described as a departure for Ozon. And I do agree that "Time to Leave" is very different than, say "8 Femme", but he has clearly left his mark on this new film, traces of which can be seen in his 2003 "Swimming Pool". An introspective look, with one or two fully developed characters who are realizing themselves in the short time we know them. But they are characters that we already know, in a way. (Isn't any well conceived story like this?)

In "Time to Leave", we meet a 31 year old man who finds out he has months to live. And we are with him as he comes to terms with this. He lives his few remaining months more fully than it seems he knew was possible, and not in some "Let's go to DisneyLand" kind of way either. This is rather a quiet meditation on death, but much more importantly, on what it means to be alive, how precious each moment is, and that even a few months can be realized as a lifetime. As with any work of true Art, the truth is sought, and found in this film.

My grandmother died last week, and I know I wouldn't have appreciated Ozon's film as fully otherwise, for in a profound way, the film has helped me accept the loss of someone I wish I could have known on a deeper level. The film is an amazing work of art on its own, but for anyone who has felt loss, be it the loss of another, of one's health, of lost time or opportunities, "Time to Leave" is a masterpiece, which will help. A lot.