Keeps holding out a promise of insight into its young protagonist's mentality and makeup, but ends up merely observing her from a cool distance, as if through the binoculars from the opening scene.

~ Anton Bitel -

Keeps holding out a promise of insight into its young protagonist's mentality and makeup, but ends up merely observing her from a cool distance, as if through the binoculars from the opening scene.

~ Anton Bitel -

The delight of the drama stems from the well crafted characters, while its heft hinges on toxicity that may not be immediately obvious.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The delight of the drama stems from the well crafted characters, while its heft hinges on toxicity that may not be immediately obvious.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Ozon punctuates the film with some carefully studied compositions.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Ozon punctuates the film with some carefully studied compositions.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

A study in grief, using magic realism, seems metaphorically top heavy.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

A study in grief, using magic realism, seems metaphorically top heavy.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Time To Leave is at times laboured, but it is an intelligent film.

~ Chris -

Time To Leave is at times laboured, but it is an intelligent film.

~ Chris -

If looks could kill, the audience would be dead.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

If looks could kill, the audience would be dead.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Although Ozon never quite makes his mind up about the tone of the piece, the weird juxtaposition of the normal and abnormal is mostly effective.

~ Adam Micklethwaite -

Although Ozon never quite makes his mind up about the tone of the piece, the weird juxtaposition of the normal and abnormal is mostly effective.

~ Adam Micklethwaite -

Emotions run like torrents through François Ozon's Le Refuge, despite the apparent simplicity of the surface narrative.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Emotions run like torrents through François Ozon's Le Refuge, despite the apparent simplicity of the surface narrative.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Ozon uses the building blocks of the comic tradition to tell a much more empowering tale that plays genuine tribute to a rounded female character.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Ozon uses the building blocks of the comic tradition to tell a much more empowering tale that plays genuine tribute to a rounded female character.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Martyrdom and bad wishing, casual cruelty and sweet despair reign in this realm.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Martyrdom and bad wishing, casual cruelty and sweet despair reign in this realm.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Sexuality, Francois Ozon's latest film declares, can be as complex as desiring another person can be simple.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Sexuality, Francois Ozon's latest film declares, can be as complex as desiring another person can be simple.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

If there is rather more surface than substance and the ending is signposted, it is a surface full of intricacy and a signpost of admirable elegance.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

If there is rather more surface than substance and the ending is signposted, it is a surface full of intricacy and a signpost of admirable elegance.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Ozon loves to let his audience's perceptions clash.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Ozon loves to let his audience's perceptions clash.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Frequently and not at all randomly, the film switches to colour, posing a charming riddle that reflects states of happiness or other kinds of intensity.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Frequently and not at all randomly, the film switches to colour, posing a charming riddle that reflects states of happiness or other kinds of intensity.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

François Ozon makes what could have been an impossibly painful subject more palatable but nonetheless affecting.

~ Richard Mowe -

François Ozon makes what could have been an impossibly painful subject more palatable but nonetheless affecting.

~ Richard Mowe -

Although difficult to watch at times, the film contains a distinct energy that is both erotic and fearful.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Although difficult to watch at times, the film contains a distinct energy that is both erotic and fearful.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

A sugary delight with a delightfully bitter aftertaste.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A sugary delight with a delightfully bitter aftertaste.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Ozon does not smooth over the rough edges and the icy roads stay icy.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Ozon does not smooth over the rough edges and the icy roads stay icy.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Lucy Russell in particular puts in a fascinating and nuanced performance.

~ Susanna Krawczyk -

Lucy Russell in particular puts in a fascinating and nuanced performance.

~ Susanna Krawczyk -

Ozon's quirky French murder mystery-cum-comedy-cum-musical is a brilliant pastiche on so many genres, it has no right to be as entertaining as it is, or as gripping.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Ozon's quirky French murder mystery-cum-comedy-cum-musical is a brilliant pastiche on so many genres, it has no right to be as entertaining as it is, or as gripping.

~ Amber Wilkinson -