Changing Times (2004)
"Les temps qui changent" (original title)

Traveling from France to Tangiers, a man looks to reunite with his former love, though their romance ended some 30 years earlier.

Director:

André Téchiné

Writers:

André Téchiné (scenario), Laurent Guyot (scenario),

Stars:

Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu, Gilbert Melki

5 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Catherine Deneuve	...	Cécile
Gérard Depardieu	...	Antoine Lavau
Gilbert Melki	...	Natan
Malik Zidi	...	Sami
Lubna Azabal	...	Nadia / Aïcha
Tanya Lopert	...	Rachel Meyer
Nabila Baraka	...	Nabila
Idir Elomri	...	Saïd
Nadem Rachati	...	Bilal
Jabir Elomri	...	Saïd
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Christophe Freudiger	...	Joueur du casino
Hicham Ibrahimi	...	Réceptionniste
Bouchaïd Kidi	...	Le bijoutier
Stéphane Rouabah	...	Chauffeur d'Antoine

Storyline

Connections and personality: France and Morocco, sisters, mothers and sons, husbands and lovers. Antoine arranges a job in Tangiers so he can reconnect to Cécile, his first love, unseen for 30 years. Sami, her son, comes from Paris with his friend Nadia and her son to see his mother and his Moroccan boyfriend. Nadia wants to see Aïcha, her twin, a devout Muslim unwilling to see her pill-popping sister. Antoine harbors romantic fantasies; Cécile lives in the real world of an empty marriage to Natan, a Jewish doctor who's broke, drinks too much, and wants to move back to Casablanca. Cécile is a follower. Dogs and mud present dangers, as does complaisance. Will the earth move?

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Plot Keywords:

tangiers | love | morocco | first love | twin | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Gemini Films / 1000 Films [fr]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

15 December 2004 (France)

Also Known As:

Changing Times

Filming Locations:

Ibn Batouta International Airport, Tangiers, Tangier-Tétouan, Morocco

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$31,702 (USA) (14 July 2006)

Gross:

$540,400 (USA) (22 November 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gemini Films, France 2 Cinéma, Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 100 min (IFC library print)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

visa d'exploitation en France : #109926

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Soundtracks

"Change in Jazz"
Written by Juliette Garrigues
Editions Sforzando / Sirocco

User Reviews

Engrossing

I'm a bit confused at the negative reactions on here, I really can't imagine anybody disliking this film. It's perfectly solid writing, direction and performances, and I miss the days when filmmakers were encouraged to tell stories relevant to life with relatable but complicated characters, against a fascinating, politically charged backdrop.

I'm a huge fan of Techiné's Wild Reeds, it's one of my favorite films of the 90s (and in general) - and OK, granted, this wasn't *as* good, but it was still horribly clever, sweet and entertaining. Depardieu does well despite a tricky character (who's a little too naive to be believable at times), Deneuve is as gorgeous and just generally magnificent as ever, and the supporting cast fares well also.