Movies - Colours of Time: Cédric Klapisch travels back in time and down memory lane in an ambitious family drama

By Mulder, 05 may 2025

With Colours of Time, his fifteenth feature film, Cédric Klapisch offers a work that blends family drama, historical narrative, and intergenerational epic. Known for his ability to capture the spirit of the times while exploring profound human themes—think L'Auberge espagnole, Ce qui nous lie, and En corps—the French director changes narrative scale here while maintaining his tender and lucid gaze on the bonds that unite individuals. Presented out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, this film marks a first for Klapisch on the Croisette, despite his longstanding presence on the French film scene. Co-written with Santiago Amigorena, Colours of Time spans two eras—2025 and 1895—and weaves a story in which the past and present subtly interact through generations, memories, and objects.

The story begins in our time, in 2025, when thirty members of the same family learn that they have collectively inherited an abandoned house in Normandy. A house frozen in time, lost in the countryside, whose dilapidated state hides a rich and eventful past. Among them, four figures emerge: Seb, Abdel, Céline, and Guy. It falls to them to inspect the premises and assess what can be saved, passed on, or destroyed. What seemed to be a mere administrative and patrimonial inventory quickly turns into an unexpected emotional journey. Through letters, diaries, everyday objects, and old photographs found in the dusty corners of the house, the quartet uncovers the story of Adèle, an ancestor who left Normandy in 1895 to try her luck in Paris. It is through this door to the past that the film shifts, alternating between two narrative threads—the contemporary one and that of Adèle at the end of the 19th century—while immersing us in a reflection on parentage, family memory, life choices, and the place of women in history.

The cast brings together several generations of French cinema actors and actresses, with obvious care taken in the casting. Suzanne Lindon, who made a name for herself in her debut film Seize printemps, plays Adèle with a finesse and restraint reminiscent of the impressionist heroines of the paintings of the period. Alongside her are familiar faces such as Vincent Macaigne, Julia Piaton, Zinedine Soualem, Paul Kircher, Vassili Schneider, Sara Giraudeau, as well as Cécile de France and Olivier Gourmet, regulars of European arthouse cinema. This ensemble cast allows Klapisch to multiply the points of view without ever losing coherence, with each character contributing to the film's narrative structure. The dynamics between them are credible, fueled by natural dialogue that is sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, reminiscent of the director's characteristic writing style.
The film was shot over ten weeks in Paris, Normandy, and studios carefully decorated to recreate 1895 Paris. 

Particular attention was paid to historical accuracy, whether in the sets, costumes, or even the props: the images, the objects found, the photographs—everything seems imbued with a desire to capture the spirit of the late 19th century. This pivotal period, when photography was becoming popular, women were beginning to make their voices heard, and French society was undergoing transformation under the influence of industrial and cultural revolutions, serves as a mirror for the present. The work of the art direction allows for this immersion without any break in tone, with a rare fluidity between the eras. Klapisch and his team even mentioned in interviews that they had to shorten the film, which was originally three hours long, to maintain a steady pace while respecting the richness of the story. Meticulous post-production allowed them to preserve the essence of the project while tightening the narrative around the essential thematic threads: transmission, personal history, and the quest for identity.

Colours of Time is undoubtedly one of Cédric Klapisch's most ambitious projects, both in terms of content and form. He infuses it with his humanist outlook, his sensitivity to personal journeys, and his ability to bring laughter and emotion together without ever overdoing it. But here he adds a new historical depth to his filmography. This film delicately questions how our ancestors influence our choices, even when we think we have forgotten them. Through Adèle, it is the figure of the pioneering woman who is honored, the woman who dares to leave, create, love, and assert her freedom in an era that constrains her. Through Seb, Abdel, Céline, and Guy, our present is redefined in light of the past: what are we going to do with this legacy? How do we live with the traces of those who came before us? Should we preserve it at all costs, or reinvent it from the ruins? These are questions that resonate strongly in a contemporary era where collective memory is often fragmented, erased, or rewritten.

In short, Colours of Time promises to be a poetic and profound work, carried by a romantic spirit that is rare in contemporary French cinema. Cédric Klapisch confirms his talent for telling human stories, while daring to take a broader, more ambitious and more lyrical approach to cinema. This film reminds us that our future is built as much on our dreams as on our memories, and that sometimes, in order to move forward, we need to open the doors to the past. A beautiful declaration of love for time, transmission, and the living memory of families.

Colours of Time (La Venue de l'avenir)
Directed by Cédric Klapisch
Produced by Cédric Klapisch, Bruno Lévy
Written by Cédric Klapisch, Santiago Amigorena
Starring Suzanne Lindon, Abraham Wapler, Vincent Macaigne, Julia Piaton, Zinedine Soualem, Paul Kircher, Vassili Schneider, Sara Giraudeau, Cécile de France, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, François Berléand, Raïka Hazanavicius, Louise Pascal, Fred Testot, Olivier Gourmet, Vincent Perez, François Chattot, Pomme
Cinematography: Alexis Kavyrchine
Edited by Alexis Kavyrchine
Production companies: Ce qui me meut
Distributed by StudioCanal (France)
Release date: May 22, 2025 (France)
Running time: TBA
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Photos: Copyright StudioCanal - Ce qui me meut

(Source: press release)