The Time to Love: A moving melodrama (review)

With this story freely inspired by her family history, Katell Quillévéré composes a poignant fresco on the post-war period, carried by the quality of the duo Anaïs Demoustier-Vincent Lacoste

Madeleine doesn’t keep much from her past. At least, she would like to forget him. That’s without counting his son, Daniel, born from a union with a German soldier during the Second World War, who constantly comes to remind him of this. One day, while working as a waitress by the sea, she meets François. In principle, everything opposes them. He is the son of a rich industrialist, educated and has a great future. She has nothing except this cumbersome son, the last relic of a shame that she carries around and which will follow her for many years. However, François kisses Madeleine one evening. He adopts Daniel. Together, this polar opposite couple opens a dance hall where American soldiers come to meet every evening. Katell Quillévéré follows, like a soap opera with very romantic overtones, the journey of this couple. They quickly fell in love with each other and rushed to escape together. If Madeleine’s reasons are obvious – to forget her affair during the war -, François’s are more vague… As Madeleine detects the truth from her husband, it is her marriage and her life that falter. They are nothing without each other, but do they really love each other? The scenario of Time to love, largely inspired by the director’s family history, offers beautiful roles to its performers (Anaïs Demoustier and Vincent Lacoste, in great form) and takes a very sincere photograph of post-war France. A time when life did not always leave a choice, but followed its course against all odds.

Emma Poesy

Of Katell Quillévéré. With Anaïs Demoustier, Vincent Lacoste and Paul Beaurepaire… Duration 2h05. Released November 29, 2023