Amelie Bonnin's 'Leave One Day' Opens Cannes as First Female-Directed Debut Since 1987

Amélie Bonnin made history at the 78th Cannes International Film Festival as the first female director since 1987 to open the event with her debut feature film 'Leave One Day,' which also received a five-minute ovation from the audience. The romantic musical dramedy stars French singer Juliette Armanet as Cécile, a rising chef in Paris who must return to her small hometown due to her father's heart attack, leading her to reconnect with a teenage crush and reevaluate her life choices. The film is based on Bonnin's 2023 César-winning short of the same name and features popular French pop songs interwoven with drama, reflecting Bonnin's desire to tell a story through the perspective of a forty-year-old woman facing work, motherhood, and desire. Produced by Topshot Films, Les Films du Worso, and co-produced by Pathé and France 3 Cinéma, 'Leave One Day' premiered in France concurrently with Cannes, with Pathé handling world sales and French rights. While the film was praised at Cannes, some critics described it as a flawed musical that struggles with tone and execution. Bonnin, who transitioned from documentary filmmaking and visual arts, emphasizes the film's musical soundtrack as a personal and emotional narrative device.