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Time Out

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description Time Out Overview

Time Out (French title: L'Emploi du temps) is a 2001 French drama film written and directed by Laurent Cantet, starring Aurélien Recoing. It follows a middle-aged executive who loses his job but conceals this from his family, driving around and fabricating a new professional life until his deception becomes increasingly unsustainable. The story was loosely inspired by the real-life case of Jean-Claude Romand, a Frenchman who deceived his family for years. The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and received critical praise for its restrained psychological tension.

help Time Out FAQ

Is Laurent Cantet's Time Out based on a true story?

The film is loosely inspired by the real case of Jean-Claude Romand, a Frenchman who fooled his family for 18 years into believing he was a doctor at the WHO before murdering them in 1993. Cantet changed details extensively, focusing on the psychology of deception rather than the crime.

What does Vincent do in Time Out (L'Emploi du temps)?

Vincent, played by Aurélien Recoing, loses his consulting job but tells his family he has started a new position at the United Nations in Geneva. He spends his days driving around France and sleeping in his car, eventually inventing a fake NGO investment scheme to cover his lies.

What other film is based on the Jean-Claude Romand case?

Nicole Garcia's L'Adversaire (2002), starring Daniel Auteuil, is a much more direct adaptation of the Romand case. Unlike Cantet's film, Garcia's version follows the true story through to its violent conclusion.

Did Time Out win any festival awards?

Time Out premiered at the 2001 Venice Film Festival, where it received significant critical acclaim. It went on to win the Leonardo Da Vinci Award at Venice and was named Best Film at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.

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