Time to Leave

Romain is a 31 year old fashion photographer who has learned his illness is terminal. He chooses to end his life on his own terms rather than pursue aggressive treatment or be overwhelmed by pity. He plans the days ahead so that those who care about him can keep living fully after he is gone, rather than cling to grief or a cure that will not come. The film follows his careful decisions and the conversations that shape how friends and family say goodbye, inviting reflection on autonomy, dignity, and the quiet, intimate act of letting go. Romain measures time in small rituals and ordinary moments, turning ordinary farewells into a map of what matters when time is finite today.

Directed by François Ozon and released in 2005, Time to Leave is built from Ozon's own screenplay, an original rather than adaptation. The cast includes Melvil Poupaud, Jeanne Moreau, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Daniel Duval, and Marie Rivière, delivering restrained performances.

Box office details for this art house drama are not widely publicized, reflecting its niche release. It circulated mainly in France and European markets, with festival screenings and selective art house runs outside of major commercial circuits worldwide and festivals.

Time to Leave sits among Ozon's more restrained works and has been noted for its calm, unhurried approach to a hard topic. It sparked conversations about autonomy, end of life choices, and the way intimate films can address mortality without sensationalism. It shaped conversations about autonomy and care in screenings.

Critics praised its subtle mood, the precision of its visuals, and the focus on character over drama. The film looks at themes of memory, care, and the delicate boundary between love and obligation as a person confronts the end. The performances anchor the film's quiet emotional resonance for many viewers.