The opening of When Fall is Coming is like a soothing balm. We see Michelle (Helene Vincent) enjoying what appears to be an idyllic retirement. She lives on a lush piece of land, not excessive but just enough to sustain herself. There are catch ups with her best friend Marie-Claude, which include frolics in the nearby forest to forage for mushrooms. Each day moves at a leisurely pace, filled with simple pleasures,
It sounds like the kind of retirement most would love to have… until we meet Valerie, Michelle’s daughter.
Despite her best intentions, Michelle’s relationship with Valerie is fractured. Although, not fractured enough to deter Valerie from bringing her son Lucas for a visit and argue for an early inheritance. Yes, Ludivine Sagnier, plays the haughty, entitled daughter well. She makes each acerbic comment sting with such venom that you can’t help but hate her character within minutes of meeting her.
This chip in Michelle’s otherwise serene life cracks open when Valerie is admitted to hospital for food poisoning – it was the mushrooms that Michelle had picked. Valerie is convinced that her mum is out to kill her. The holiday is cut short and she ceases all contact with a guilt-ridden Michelle.
And so begins a series of events that derail an otherwise uneventful retirement.
The twists and turns of this movie are not confrontational shocks to the system. Instead, they are much more insidious, stealthily creeping into your mind and making you question your beliefs.
This is particularly true of Vincent (Pierre Lottin). Vincent is Marie-Claude’s jailbird son. When he is released from prison, we see a man who is possibly contrite but somewhat sullen. As the movie progresses, his relationship with Michelle evolves. Each change is so subtle that instead of questioning each change in your perception, it feels like a gradual and natural progression. You feel happy for Michelle, that she has something to make up for Valerie.
While the slow unveiling works for twisting the narrative, there are moments in the movie where the scenes felt excessively drawn out. Yet, it also seems to effortlessly transport us months and even years down the track without realising it. Perhaps this is due to the consistent colour palette of the film, which tricks the mind into think we’re in the same season despite the passage of time. This cinematographic choice helps minimise the problems with pacing.
When Fall is Coming is a deliciously ambiguous outing. If you enjoy a mystery, you’ll eat up every tidbit this movie offers.
When Fall is Coming is showing as part of the Alliance Française French Film Festival. Sessions run from 16th March until 16th April.