New Movies: On ira (Bon Voyage, Marie) (2025) by Enya Baroux: A Grandmother's Last Wish, a Family's Unexpected Journey
- dailyentertainment95
- Jul 12
- 12 min read
Core Summary: A Deceptive Road Trip for a Final Goodbye
On ira (internationally known as Bon Voyage, Marie) is a French comedy-drama marking Enya Baroux's feature directorial debut. The film centers on Marie, an 80-year-old woman suffering from a terminal illness who secretly plans to travel to Switzerland for assisted suicide. Unable to reveal her true intentions to her irresponsible son, Bruno, and rebellious teenage granddaughter, Anna, Marie invents a elaborate lie: a mysterious inheritance waiting for her in a Swiss bank. This fabricated quest leads the dysfunctional family, along with Rudy, a newly hired home-help who unwittingly becomes their driver, on an unexpected road trip in an old camper van. The journey, filled with humor and emotional revelations, forces the family to confront their relationships and navigate the complexities of life, death, and honesty.
Summary Short: An 80-year-old woman, secretly planning assisted suicide, tricks her dysfunctional family into a road trip to Switzerland with a fake inheritance story.
Enya Baroux's On ira (Bon Voyage, Marie) (2025) is a French comedy-drama about Marie, an ailing octogenarian who orchestrates a deceptive family road trip to Switzerland, pretending to seek an inheritance, when her true motive is a final goodbye.
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35077924/
Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/fr/film/on-ira (France)
Detailed Summary: The Bittersweet Humor of Facing Mortality
On ira blends lighthearted comedic moments with profound themes of life, death, family dynamics, and the courage to face difficult truths.
Marie's Secret Plan: The film opens by introducing Marie (Hélène Vincent), an 80-year-old woman grappling with a debilitating illness. Tired of her suffering, she makes a private decision: to travel to Switzerland, where assisted suicide is legal, to end her life on her own terms.
The Elaborate Deception: When the time comes to inform her family, Marie falters. Unable to directly tell her irresponsible son, Bruno (Pierre Lottin), and her granddaughter, Anna (Juliette Gasquet), who is navigating a teenage crisis, about her true intentions, she concocts a grand lie. She claims a mysterious, long-lost inheritance awaits her in a Swiss bank and proposes a family road trip to collect it.
The Unlikely Companions: Unbeknownst to them, Bruno and Anna embark on this journey, hoping for a distraction or some unexpected gain. Adding to the comedic dynamic is Rudy (David Ayala), a home-help Marie has only just met, who inadvertently becomes the driver of the family's old camper van. Rudy, a kind-hearted but somewhat bewildered accomplice, is swept into Marie's charade.
The Journey of Revelation: As the quirky group travels through picturesque landscapes in their vintage camper, the confined space and the unfolding journey force them to confront each other. The film uses the road trip format to explore their dysfunctional but loving family ties. Through various humorous incidents and tender moments, long-held resentments, unspoken affections, and individual quirks come to the surface.
Themes of Life, Death, and Transmission: The narrative artfully tackles profound themes. Marie's quest highlights the "right to choose one's end of life" with both humor and sensitivity. The film also explores "transmission" – how values, secrets, and legacies are passed down through generations. The family's journey becomes a metaphor for rediscovering themselves and each other, with the looming unspoken truth adding a bittersweet layer to every interaction.
Emotional and Humorous Tones: Baroux's direction aims for a "tender, offbeat comedy-drama," balancing the gravity of Marie's situation with light-hearted, often absurd, family interactions. It’s compared to films like Little Miss Sunshine for its family road trip feel and La Famille Bélier for its humane French comedy-drama style. The ensemble cast is praised for their ability to navigate between emotion and lightness.
On ira is a poignant yet funny story about a family on an unexpected journey, forced to reconnect and face the ultimate truth of life's conclusion.
Director's Vision: Enya Baroux's Sensitive and Humorous Debut
Enya Baroux, making her feature directorial debut, co-wrote the screenplay with Martin Darondeau, bringing a specific vision to On ira.
Balancing Comedy and Emotion: Baroux's primary aim was to tackle a profound and sensitive subject (end-of-life choices) with "humor and sensitivity." Her vision focuses on finding the comedic nuances within a serious situation, allowing for a tender and empathetic approach to human relationships.
Character-Driven Narrative: The film prioritizes the characters' journeys and their evolving relationships over a strict plot. Baroux wanted to explore how a family dynamic shifts under unusual circumstances and the pressure of an unspoken truth.
Authenticity in Family Depiction: The director seeks to portray the "family with tenderness and humor," reflecting the messiness and love inherent in such relationships. She likely encouraged her cast to bring natural, engaging performances that highlight the intergenerational dynamics.
Road Trip as Metaphor: The choice of a road trip in an old camper van is intentional, using the confined space and continuous movement as a catalyst for forced proximity, confrontation, and eventual connection.
"Light-Hearted Yet Moving Tone": Baroux aimed for a tone that would appeal to fans of "humane French comedy-dramas," ensuring the film is accessible and engaging despite its weighty themes.
Themes: End-of-Life Choices, Family Bonds, Deception & Honesty, Intergenerational Relationships, Unconditional Love, Facing Mortality
End-of-Life Choices/Dignity in Dying: Marie's central motivation directly addresses the complex and sensitive issue of assisted suicide and an individual's right to choose their final moments.
Family Bonds and Dysfunction: The film explores the intricate, often messy, but ultimately unbreakable ties within a family, highlighting how love can exist amidst irresponsibility and conflict.
Deception and the Weight of Truth: Marie's initial lie drives the plot, but the underlying theme explores the burden of keeping a secret and the eventual necessity (or impossibility) of honesty when facing profound decisions.
Intergenerational Relationships: The dynamic between Marie (grandmother), Bruno (son), and Anna (granddaughter) is central, showing how different generations cope with life, grief, and the future.
Unconditional Love: Despite their flaws, the family members are bound by a deep, if sometimes unexpressed, love that is tested on their journey.
Facing Mortality: The film provides a platform for characters, both directly and indirectly, to confront the reality of death and how it shapes life.
Key Success Factors: Sensitive Handling of a Difficult Topic, Strong Ensemble, and Relatable Humor
Timely and Sensitive Subject Matter: Addressing end-of-life choices in a comedy-drama format is bold and can resonate deeply with audiences.
Experienced Lead Actress: Hélène Vincent is a celebrated figure in French cinema, bringing gravity and nuance to Marie.
Blend of Humor and Emotion: The film's ability to navigate between laughter and tears, making a difficult topic accessible and moving.
Relatable Family Dynamics: The dysfunctional but loving family unit is a universal concept that audiences can connect with.
Road Trip Appeal: The "road movie" format often allows for natural character development and scenic backdrops, which is popular with audiences.
Festival Recognition: Having been awarded at the Alpe d'Huez Film Festival provides early critical validation.
Summary Short: A Concise Takeaway
Enya Baroux's On ira (Bon Voyage, Marie) (2025) is a French comedy-drama about an elderly woman's secret plan for assisted suicide, masked by a fake inheritance road trip with her dysfunctional family, earning praise for its sensitive humor and strong cast.
Awards & Nominations: An Award-Winning Debut
As Enya Baroux's debut feature film, On ira has already received significant recognition on the festival circuit, highlighting its promising artistic quality and performances.
Alpe d'Huez Film Festival (2025): The film was a standout at this French comedy film festival, where it notably won a Double Best Actress Award for Hélène Vincent and Juliette Gasquet. This prestigious recognition underscores the strength of the lead performances and the film's emotional impact.
Given its early success at a prominent French festival, On ira is well-positioned for further accolades, particularly within French cinema awards, and potentially at international festivals focusing on drama and comedy. Its themes also make it a strong candidate for audience awards.
Critics' Reception: A Tender and Thought-Provoking Debut
Critics have largely praised On ira as a tender, offbeat, and emotionally resonant comedy-drama that tackles complex themes with a light touch, though some noted areas where it could have delved deeper.
Sortiraparis.com (Julie de Sortiraparis): Describes On ira as a "tender, offbeat comedy-drama about a family road trip" that "blends comedy and emotion." The review highlights Baroux's "promising first film" that tackles "profound themes such as transmission, family ties and the right to choose one's end of life, with humor and sensitivity." It praises the "engaging cast, notably Hélène Vincent," and notes the film's light-hearted yet moving tone, reminiscent of "humane French comedy-dramas such as La Famille Bélier or Les Petits Mouchoirs," and the road trip feel of films like Little Miss Sunshine.
aVoir-aLire.com: Offers a more mixed review, suggesting that while "it is not forbidden to laugh at death and even more so at euthanasia," the film sometimes "does not escape the clichés of melodrama and hollow laughter." The review points out that the film "struggles with the multiple threads depicting a multifaceted perspective" and that the "scenario does not really explore the psychology of the characters, confined to rather fixed, if not stereotypical, figures." However, it strongly commends Hélène Vincent's performance as Marie, finding her "very touching" and praising her ability to express "the ravages of serious illness on the body, morale, and desire." The review also notes that some scenes are "very funny," but that the film often falls into a "good-natured spirit" that "does not escape melodramatic excesses and tear-jerking."
Unifrance: Highlights the film's synopsis, emphasizing Marie's plan to end her life and the lie she constructs, focusing on the dramatic tension of her potential revelation.
Overall, critics recognize On ira as a significant and promising debut for Enya Baroux. Its strengths lie in its ability to combine humor with sensitive dramatic themes, particularly the challenging topic of end-of-life choices. The performances of the cast, especially Hélène Vincent, are consistently lauded for their ability to navigate between emotion and lightness, even if some critics felt the script could have delved more deeply into character psychology and avoided certain genre pitfalls.
Reviews: Audiences Embracing the Heartfelt Journey
Audience reactions to On ira are largely positive, with viewers connecting deeply with its emotional core, humorous moments, and relatable family dynamics. The film's ability to tackle sensitive subjects with warmth and authenticity is a major draw.
Emotional Connection and Sensitivity: Viewers are profoundly moved by Marie's journey and the complex emotions it stirs within her family. The film's gentle approach to the topic of assisted dying, framed within a story of family bonding, is often appreciated. Audiences find the portrayal of unspoken feelings and eventual breakthroughs to be very touching.
Humor and Lightness: Despite the weighty themes, audiences enjoy the comedic elements woven throughout the road trip. The "good-natured spirit" and the humor derived from the characters' interactions and Marie's elaborate lie contribute to a balanced viewing experience, preventing the film from becoming overly somber.
Relatable Family Dynamics: Many viewers find the dysfunctional yet loving family dynamics highly relatable. The irresponsible son, the rebellious granddaughter, and the newly introduced caregiver create a diverse group whose interactions resonate with the complexities of real family relationships.
Strong Performances: Hélène Vincent's portrayal of Marie is a standout, with audiences often praising her nuanced performance that conveys both her determination and her vulnerability. The chemistry among the entire cast is noted for making the family feel authentic and engaging.
Road Movie Appeal: The road trip format provides a compelling narrative structure, allowing for character development and unexpected moments of discovery, which audiences typically enjoy. The journey itself becomes a metaphor for self-discovery and reconnection.
Overall, On ira is proving to be a heartfelt and thought-provoking film for audiences. Its blend of humor and drama, its sensitive handling of a difficult subject, and its strong ensemble performances make it a memorable and emotionally rewarding cinematic experience, especially for those who appreciate French comedy-dramas.
Box Office: Modest but Respectable French Performance
As an independent French film, On ira is not expected to achieve blockbuster numbers. Its box office performance is characteristic of a successful local independent feature.
France Theatrical Release: The film was released theatrically in France on March 12, 2025.
Other Theatrical Releases:
Netherlands: July 3, 2025, grossing $50,271 (as of July 7, 2025).
Spain (as Bon Voyage, Marie): July 18, 2025.
Germany (as Bon Voyage, Marie): October 16, 2025.
Overall Summary of Box Office: On ira has achieved a modest but respectable box office performance in France and other European territories, typical for a well-received independent French comedy-drama. Its primary commercial success is anticipated to be within its domestic and select international markets.
Production Summary: A French Indie Drama with Heart
On ira (Bon Voyage, Marie) (2025) is a French comedy-drama film with a runtime of 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes). It is directed by Enya Baroux and co-written by Enya Baroux and Martin Darondeau. The film stars Hélène Vincent as Marie, Pierre Lottin as Bruno (son), Juliette Gasquet as Anna (granddaughter), and David Ayala as Rudy. Other cast members include Henock Cortes, Gabin Visona, and Brigitte Aubry. The film was primarily produced in France. Key crew members include Hugo Paturel (Director of Photography) and Dom La Nena (Composer). The production year is listed as 2024.
Production Companies: Collaborative French Production
On ira is a collaborative production effort by several French independent production companies:
Bonne Pioche Cinéma: Known for various films and documentaries.
Carnaval Productions: Also involved in diverse cinematic projects.
Zinc: Credited as a co-producer and French distributor.
Umedia: Credited as a foreign production partner (likely for financing/post-production).
Sales Companies: Ginger & Fed
Ginger & Fed is listed as handling the international sales/export for On ira, indicating their role in distributing the film to territories outside of France.
Distribution Companies: Zinc (France)
Zinc is handling the domestic theatrical distribution of On ira in France. Other distributors (e.g., AZFilms for Canada, Cinerama for Netherlands) handle distribution in their respective territories.
Theatrical Release: March 12, 2025 (France)
On ira had its theatrical release in France on March 12, 2025. It also had limited theatrical releases in the Netherlands (July 3, 2025), Spain (July 18, 2025), and Germany (October 16, 2025).
Why to Recommend this Movie: For a Humorous and Heartfelt Look at Life's End
Fans of French Dramedy: Recommend to viewers who appreciate the subtlety, warmth, and emotional depth of French comedy-dramas.
Stories of Family and Reconciliation: Ideal for those who enjoy narratives about dysfunctional families finding connection and understanding through shared experiences.
Sensitive Portrayal of Difficult Themes: A good choice for audiences interested in films that approach end-of-life topics with grace, humor, and respect.
Road Trip Films: For those who enjoy the classic "road movie" format where the journey itself leads to profound personal revelations.
Why to Watch Movie: To Find Laughter and Tears on an Unexpected Journey
Experience a Unique Story: Watch for an intriguing premise that combines a serious underlying theme with lighthearted, character-driven humor.
Enjoy Strong Performances: Be captivated by the nuanced acting, particularly Hélène Vincent's portrayal of Marie.
Reflect on Life's Big Questions: The film subtly prompts reflection on mortality, family bonds, and the importance of honesty.
Discover a Promising New Director: Witness a confident and sensitive directorial debut from Enya Baroux.
Movie Trend: Intergenerational Dramedies and Dignity in Dying Narratives
On ira aligns with the trend of intergenerational dramedies, where the dynamics between different age groups in a family drive the narrative, often leading to mutual understanding and growth. It also contributes to the growing number of films that explore "dignity in dying" or assisted suicide narratives from a human, rather than purely clinical or polemical, perspective, often using humor to make the topic more accessible.
Big Social Trend: Aging Population and End-of-Life Discussions
The film directly addresses the significant social trend of an aging global population and the increasing public discourse around end-of-life care, palliative care, and the right to choose (such as assisted suicide or euthanasia) in countries where it is legal. It humanizes these complex decisions within a family context, reflecting a societal shift towards more open conversations about mortality and personal autonomy in later life.
Final Conclusions: Beyond the Screen, A Lasting Impact: Overall Impression and Impact: A Touching, Humorous, and Resonant Debut
On ira (Bon Voyage, Marie) is a touching, humorous, and deeply resonant directorial debut from Enya Baroux. It skillfully navigates the difficult subject of end-of-life choices with remarkable sensitivity and warmth, proving that even the most profound topics can be explored with a light touch. Its strong cast and authentic portrayal of family dynamics leave a lasting impact as a film that celebrates life, confronts death, and champions the power of human connection.
Recommendations for Film Makers: Approach Sensitive Topics with Nuance, Prioritize Character Authenticity: Lessons from "On ira"
Handle Gravity with Grace: Filmmakers should learn from On ira's success in addressing a serious and potentially controversial topic (assisted suicide) with sensitivity, humor, and emotional balance, making it accessible without trivializing its weight.
Leverage Ensemble Chemistry: The film showcases the power of strong ensemble acting and natural chemistry to carry a narrative, particularly in a road trip setting where character interactions are paramount.
Utilize Deception for Dramatic Tension: The central lie drives much of the film's initial plot and comedic situations, demonstrating how deception can be a potent narrative device to build tension and reveal character.
Embrace Intergenerational Stories: The film highlights the richness that can be found in exploring dynamics between different generations within a family, revealing universal truths about connection and understanding.
Recommendations for Movie Industry: Support Bold Debuts, Champion Humane Dramedies: Insights from This Production
Invest in Promising Debuts: The industry should continue to support and champion first-time feature directors like Enya Baroux who demonstrate a clear vision and ability to handle complex themes with maturity and skill.
Acquire Diverse Dramedies: Recognize the strong market for humane comedy-dramas, especially those from international markets, that blend laughter and tears and tackle contemporary social issues with authenticity.
Acknowledge Sensitive Subject Matter: For films like On ira, the industry should be prepared to position and market them sensitively, acknowledging the serious themes while highlighting the emotional and human elements that make them appealing.
Value Character-Driven Narratives: Even in a high-concept world, the success of On ira reinforces the enduring appeal and critical importance of stories that are deeply rooted in character relationships and emotional journeys.
Final Verdict: Concluding Thoughts on "On ira": A Beautiful, Thought-Provoking, and Humorous Family Journey
On ira (Bon Voyage, Marie) is a beautifully crafted, thought-provoking, and often humorous family journey that courageously explores the complexities of life's final chapter. Enya Baroux's debut is a testament to sensitive storytelling, offering a unique blend of laughter and tears. It's a must-watch for anyone seeking a film that celebrates the enduring power of family bonds and the courage to face life's ultimate truths with grace and a touch of wit.
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