Things to Come
Things to Come

Movie spotlight

Things to Come

2016
Movie
102 min
French

Nathalie teaches philosophy at a high school in Paris. She is passionate about her job and particularly enjoys passing on the pleasure of thinking. Married with two children, she divides her time between her family, former students and her very possessive mother. One day, Nathalie’s husband announces he is leaving her for another woman. With freedom thrust upon her, Nathalie must reinvent her life.

Insights

IMDb6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes91%
Metacritic84/100
Google Users86%
Director: Mia Hansen-LøveGenres: Drama

Plot Summary

Nathalie, a Parisian philosophy teacher, navigates the unexpected upheaval of her life after her husband leaves her for another woman. As she faces professional challenges and the gradual aging of her mother, Nathalie must reconcile her intellectual ideals with the messy realities of personal loss and reinvention. She finds solace and strength in her relationships with her former students and her own evolving sense of self.

Critical Reception

Things to Come was widely acclaimed by critics, who praised its nuanced portrayal of midlife transition, its intelligent script, and Isabelle Huppert's masterful performance. The film resonated with audiences for its relatable themes of change, loss, and resilience, earning significant praise for its understated yet profound emotional depth.

What Reviewers Say

  • A deeply affecting and intelligent exploration of change and resilience.

  • Isabelle Huppert delivers a career-defining performance.

  • The film beautifully captures the complexities of middle age and personal reinvention.

Google audience: Google users largely appreciated the film's realistic depiction of life's transitions and found Nathalie's journey to be both relatable and inspiring. Many praised the nuanced storytelling and Huppert's compelling performance as central to the film's success, though some found its quiet pace to be less engaging.

Awards & Accolades

Won Best Film at the Seville European Film Festival and Best Actress for Isabelle Huppert at the National Society of Film Critics Awards. Nominated for multiple awards at the César Awards.

Fun Fact

Director Mia Hansen-Løve drew inspiration for the character of Nathalie partly from her own mother, who was also a philosophy teacher.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review