This film was previously reviewed in July 2021 as part of our Cannes coverage.

François Ozon’s touching film Everything Went Fine (Tout S’est Bien Passé) begins just after 85-year-old André (André Dussollier) has a stroke, and his daughters, Emmanuèle (Sophie Marceau) and Pascale (Géraldine Pailhas) rush to his side, distraught to find him in a half-paralysed state. Things take an unexpected turn when André suddenly asks Emmanuéle to help end his life out of sheer desperation to escape his seemingly hopeless future. Ozon’s story looks at a situation where someone has chosen to die on their own terms, the reasons why, and the effect this has on his family.

Everything Went Fine shows that the thought of losing a loved one can not only be heartbreaking, but also filled with feelings such as resentment and guilt. Marceau delivers all of these emotions in a truly beautiful but understated performance as Emmanuéle. We see this bubbling under the surface through her subtle expressions, but they’re contained for the sake of her duty as a daughter. We witness her ability to show strength in the face of an impossible decision, while also allowing herself moments where she breaks down. Ozon grants sympathy to Emmanuéle and Pascale as well as their father, where we understand not only the hurt and betrayal that André’s family members feel as a result of his decision, but also how much despair he’s in because he has completely lost himself and his autonomy.

Everything Went Fine gives us a chance to experience the last few months of a man’s life and his loving daughters who stay by his side despite the crushing weight of his request on their shoulders, painting a very raw portrait of how far people will go for the ones that they love.

RATING: 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Sophie Marceau, Charlotte Rampling, Hanna Schygulla, Géraldine Pailhas, André Dussollier

DIRECTOR: François Ozon

WRITERS: François Ozon, Emmanuèle Bernheim

SYNOPSIS: After Emmanuelle’s father has a stroke he asks her to help him end his life.