Adieu, Jean-Pat

Etienne, now 35, has carried the memory of his childhood tormentor Jean-Pat like a stubborn weight. The spark of resentment never quite faded, and Etienne assumes his grown up life would be free of that old dynamic. When he learns that Jean-Pat has died, his reaction is mixed at best, and he does not instantly fall into mourning. Yet for reasons he can’t ignore he ends up agreeing to handle Jean-Pat’s funeral arrangements, a task that throws him into a tangle of relatives, old classmates, and awkward rituals. The day becomes a strange tour through the past as Etienne confronts the person he used to be and the person he has become. Humor, discomfort, and small acts of honesty collide in a story about letting go without forgetting.

Directed by Cécilia Rouaud, the film adapts Laurent Tirard's idea into a compact French comedy drama. It arrived in 2025 with a cast led by Hakim Jemili, Constance Labbé, Nora Hamzawi, Alice David and Gustave Kervern, delivering humor and warmth.

Box office figures for Adieu, Jean-Pat have not been released and remain undisclosed at this time. Domestic audiences may see small gains, while international markets will determine its reach in the coming months and festival leaks worldwide interest for fans.

There are no major awards announced yet for Adieu, Jean-Pat. The film plays with a quiet warmth rather than festival showmanship, which may appeal to a broad audience but makes nominations less likely in the short term. Still the performances could be singled out in conversations about ensemble work everywhere.

Reception and themes center on forgiveness, memory, and the stubborn pull of childhood rivalries. The story uses sharp banter and awkward situations to mine humor from grief, while letting Etienne confront what forgiveness requires without papering over the past. The tone should feel intimate yet funny and a quiet sigh.