Mektoub, My Love: Canto Due is a 2025 French romantic drama film produced, co-written, and directed by Abdellatif Kechiche. The film is the third and final installment in Kechiche's Mektoub, My Love series, following Canto Uno (2017) and Intermezzo (2019). As its predecessors, it is based on 2011 novel La Blessure, la vraie by François Bégaudeau. It stars Shaïn Boumedine, Ophélie Bau, Salim Kechiouche, Jessica Pennington and Andre Jacobs.
The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 78th Locarno Film Festival on 9 August 2025, where it was nominated for the Golden Leopard, and received positive reviews by the French press. At the 31st Lumière Awards, it was nominated for Best Film, Best Director and Best Female Revelation (Pennington).
It was theatrically released in France on 3 December by Pathé.
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Synopsis
After completing his studies in Paris, Amin returns to Sète with his passion for film still burning. In September 1994, a chance encounter with a vacationing American producer brings unexpected interest in his screenplay, The Essential Elements of Universal Existence, and the producer suggests his young wife Jess for the lead role. But destiny, with its unpredictable whims, has other plans in store.
Cast
Shaïn Boumedine as Amin
Ophélie Bau as Ophélie
Jessica Pennington as Jessica Patterson (Jess)
Salim Kechiouche as Tony
Andre Jacobs as Jack Patterson
Dany Martial as Dany
Hafsia Herzi as Camélia
Alexia Chardard as Charlotte
Delinda Kechiche as Amin's Mother
Lou Luttiau as Céline
Marie Bernard as Marie
Meleinda Elasfour as Mel
Roméo De Lacour as Aimé
Kamel Saadi as Kamel
Hatika Karaoui as Tony's Mother
Production
Production wrapped in 2019, filming took place simultaneously with its predecessor Mektoub, My Love: Intermezzo.
Following Intermezzo (2019) world premiere at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, Bau and Kechiche had a fallout due to the inclusion of a 13-minute unsimulated sex scene in the final cut, which alongside Kechiche's production company insolvent status, led Canto Due to a post-production limbo of nearly 7 years.
Release
Mektoub, My Love: Canto Due had its world premiere at the 78th Locarno Film Festival on 9 August 2025, and competed for Golden Leopard. Kechiche was absent due to a recent stroke, while the main cast and line producer Riccardo Marchegiani attended the press Q&A. When asked about the Intermezzo (2019) off-set allegations, Bau declined any comments on it, while other cast members defended the filmmaker and the film.
It was theatrically released in France on 3 December 2025 by Pathé.
Reception
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian rated the film two stars out of five, calling the film "another heady dose of flirting, farce and bafflement."
However, the film received positive reviews from French critics. AlloCiné reported that French critics were "charmed by this sequel," noting that unlike the divisive reception of Intermezzo, "for this new installment, all critics are enthusiastic." Libération described it as "magnificent reunions" featuring "between sitcom parody and melancholy of blocked destinies." Le Monde called the film "sensual" and "furiously funny." Trois Couleurs praised it as "surprising in its restraint" and described it as concluding "a work already legendary" with "a mixture of mischief and twilight beauty."
Accolades
At the 31st Lumière Awards, it was nominated for Best Film, Best Director and Best Female Revelation (Pennington).