Cannes 2025: All You Need To Know About Leave One Day, A French Film That Breaks A 78-Year Festival Record

 

The Cannes Film Festival will make history in 2025 by opening with Leave One Day (Partirun jour), a romantic dramedy from French filmmaker AmélieBonnin. This marks the first time in the festival's 78-year history that a debut feature has been selected for Opening Night - an extraordinary achievement for Bonnin and a major moment for French cinema. Leave One Day is set to premiere on May 13, 2025, at the start of the 78th edition of Cannes and will simultaneously be released in French cinemas on the same day via Pathé Films.

 

About Leave One Day The film tells the story of Cécile, a rising Parisian chef played by French singer and actor Juliette Armanet. On the verge of opening her dream gourmet restaurant in the capital, Cécile is suddenly called back to her small hometown after her father suffers a heart attack. Frustrated to be pulled away from her bustling Parisian life, she unexpectedly crosses paths with her teenage crush, Raphaël (played by César Award-winner Bastien Bouillon). Their emotional reunion brings back a flood of memories and forces Cécile to re-examine her life choices, grappling with themes of nostalgia, lost love, and the tension between personal ambition and family obligations.

 

The result is a heartwarming and musically rich tale that resonates with audiences on a deeply personal level. Musical, Nostalgic, And Deeply French Blending drama, romance, and music, Leave One Day builds on Bonnin's César-winning 2021 short film of the same name. The feature is co-written by Bonnin and Dimitri Lucas, and weaves musical interludes into the story, featuring an eclectic soundtrack that ranges from classic chanson française to contemporary hits by artists like Stromae and Céline Dion. Juliette Armanet, who gained international attention for her performance of John Lennon's Imagine during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, brings her charm and vocal talent to the lead role.

 

Her co-star, Bastien Bouillon, brings depth to Raphaël, rounding out a cast that also includes Tewfik Jallab, Dominique Blanc, and François Rollin. A Historic Moment For Cannes And AmélieBonnin AmélieBonnin's feature directorial debut is not just a milestone for her career - it's a landmark for Cannes. Known for nurturing auteur talent, the festival has never opened with a first-time filmmaker's work until now. Produced by Topshot Films and Les Films du Worso, in collaboration with Pathé and France 3 Cinéma, the film is backed by major French broadcasters such as Canal+, Ciné+/OCS, and France Télévisions.