When Fall is Coming (M) – 103 minutes

Can you truly escape your past? That is the question at the heart of When Fall is Coming.

Retired grandmother Michelle Giraud (Helen Vincent) used to live in an apartment in Paris, but now enjoys a quiet life in a picturesque French village.

There, she tends to her overgrown garden and has a close friendship with fellow retiree Marie-Claude Perrin (Josiane Balasko).

Michelle’s daughter Valerie Tessier (Ludivine Sagnier), to whom she has gifted her former flat, treats her offhandedly and dismissively.

She is cold, distant, vindictive and mercenary.

She is also going through a painful divorce with Laurent (Malik Zidi).

The pair argues frequently about their young, impressionable, school age son, Lucas (Garlan Erlos).

Michelle is looking forward to seeing Lucas for the school holidays.

But when Valerie arrives with him, an incident involving poisoned mushrooms curtails that almost immediately.

Further, Valerie forbids Michelle from spending any more time with her grandson, sending Michelle spiralling.

Marie-Claude has her own issues with her offspring, Vincent (Pierre Lottin), who is incarcerated.

Even when he is let out, Marie-Claude worries that Vincent will revert to his bad old ways.

That is when Michelle helps out, offering Vincent a casual job tending to her garden and chopping wood.

Michelle regards Vincent as a surrogate son and believes everyone deserves a second chance.

And then a tragic incident changes everything.

Director Francois Ozon, who wrote the screenplay with Philippe Piazzo, has given us a surprising storyline, in which patience is rewarded.

While the build-up introduces the characters, it is halfway through before events are turned on their head.

That’s when we come to understand why the relationship between mother and daughter has been, and continues to be, what is it.

Judgment is a key component of the conceit.

Aided by strong performances all around, there is a deliberate edginess about the feel of the film.

Helen Vincent is convincing as Michelle, gently trying to make good with all with whom she comes into contact.

Josiane Balasko brings naturalism to her depiction of Michelle’s best friend and confidante Marie-Claude.

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Ludivine Sagnier is stern and aloof as Valerie, while Garlan Erlos is respectful and curious as her son, Lucas.

Pierre Lottin does a good job inhabiting the persona of a man who has made questionable choices.

Cinematographer Jerome Almeras showcases the supreme beauty of the Burgundy region of France.

The title is drawn from a reference to the autumn of life and the autumnal splendour of the landscape.

Rated M, When Fall is Coming is an atmospheric and richly rewarding film, with a fine attention to detail, that scores an 8 out of 10.