Departure is a 2015 English–French independent coming-of-age romantic drama film written and directed by Andrew Steggall in his feature directorial debut. The film stars Juliet Stevenson, Alex Lawther, Phénix Brossard, Finbar Lynch, and Niamh Cusack.
It premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on 9 October 2015 before a UK theatrical release on 20 May 2016 through Peccadillo Pictures.
Contents
Plot
Beatrice (Juliet Stevenson) and her teenage son Elliot (Alex Lawther) arrive in southern France to prepare their family holiday home for sale. Both mother and son are in transitional phases: Beatrice is confronting the breakdown of her marriage, while Elliot is experiencing a sexual awakening. Elliot becomes infatuated with Clément (Phénix Brossard), a local French teenager with a rebellious streak.
Over the course of a week, the family's tensions, unspoken secrets, and shifting relationships unfold. Elliot's friendship with Clément develops into a deeper, romantic bond, mirroring Beatrice's own attempts to navigate emotional upheaval. Their stories converge in a meditation on desire, adolescence, and the dissolution of family ties.
Cast
Juliet Stevenson as Beatrice
Alex Lawther as Elliot
Phénix Brossard as Clément
Niamh Cusack as Sally
Finbar Lynch as Philip
Patrice Juiff as François
Guillaume Tobo as the butcher
Danièle Catala as woman at the market
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 87% of 15 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.0/10. Variety positively noted the film's score and camera work but critiqued the "pretentious" dialogue. Ryan Morris of Film Inquiry praised Lawther, Brossard, and Stevenson's performances, but criticized the visual metaphors and lack of character development.
Awards
The Departure, along with Juliet Stevenson, Alex Lawther, and Phenix Brossard, received a special mention at the 2015 Dinard British Film Festival.