‘Leave One Day’ Review: Cannes Opens with a French Musical Confection About a Celebrity Chef in Midlife Crisis. But It’s a Less Than Rich Dessert

Cannes Opener ‘Leave One Day’ Arrives With Five-Minute-Plus Ovation

Amélie Bonnin’s romantic dramedy Leave One Day (Partir un Jour) made history at the Cannes Film Festival this evening, becoming the first debut feature to ever open the event.  It also got a five-minute-plus ovation from the crowd. Leave One Day builds on Bonnin’s 2023 César-winning short film of the same name. The romantic musical revolves around rising […]

‘Leave One Day’ Review: Cannes Opens with a French Musical Confection About a Celebrity Chef in Midlife Crisis. But It’s a Less Than Rich Dessert

The pop star Juliette Armanet evokes the pensive young Meryl Streep, but Amélie Bonnin's first solo feature is at once affecting and aimless.

Cannes Review: Leave One Day is a Nostalgia-Laced Musical That Plays It Safe

Frequent festival-goers learn to not expect much from opening films. Truth is, quality is but one of many factors that lead to the selection for this symbolic slot. In order to avoid offending sensibilities and setting a controversial tone for the whole festival from the get-go, programmers tend to pick something less adventurous or challenging for their curtain-raiser. Even with reasonably lowered expectations, however, French director Amélie B…

The film “Leave One Day”, by director Amélie Bonnin, was responsible for opening the 78th edition of the Cannes Festival on Wednesday (13). With the musical, it was the first time a long-term event led by a woman started the event. The title, based on the short homony metre of Bonnin, winner of the César Prize in 2023. The romantic music rotates around the head in Cecile (Juliette Armanet), which is ready to make the dream of opening its own gou…

Review: Leave One Day

13/05/2025 - CANNES 2025: Amélie Bonnin delivers a staggering work of emotional simplicity, an organic musical whose local roots resonate universally