Opening at Showroom Cinema on Friday 17 June, Everything Went Fine is a film that touches on the heavy subject of euthanasia with a light-hearted and at times respectfully comedic approach.

The film starts with Emmanuelle (Sophie Marceau), a highly regarded author, preparing to write her next novel and enjoying a successful period in her career. Unexpectedly, she receives a phone call after her father André (Andre Dussollier) has a stroke at 85. Hearing the news Emmanuelle rushes to his bedside where Andre is unable to walk, eat or move in the way he used to. Sick and half-paralyzed in the hospital, Andre asks Emmanuelle a question that she could not have prepared for. Andre wants to end his life and he wants his daughters to help him to do it. Andre isn’t an easy man to get along with and Emmanuelle and her sister Pascale struggle to come to terms with his decision whilst balancing conflicting views on their father. 

Following Emmanuelle, we are shown the difficult and long process of adhering to Andre’s wishes, especially in France, where euthanasia has been criminalised. We are also shown what it is like to live life as a half-paralyzed person and the underlying reasons for Andre to feel so strongly about his decision. 

Alongside the practical barriers Emmanuelle faces, Everything Went Fine follows her journey as she learns more about her father after a long period of disconnection. Despite Emmanuelle’s and Andre’s rocky relationship, the continuous conflicts that take place in their family and the story’s deep subject matter, the film has a surprisingly light-hearted tone.  

Everything Went Fine is full of heart and humanity, showing the fullness and complexity of the human condition with beautifully slow and unfolding performances from Marceau and Dussollier. Based on the late Emmanuèle Bernheim's novel Everything Went Fine, French filmmaker François Ozon shows his skill and craft in creating a full and real story with perfect balance.  

Everything Went Fine opens at the Showroom Cinema on Friday 17 June. Tickets are now on sale. 

This article first featured in the Sheffield Telegraph on Thursday 16 June 2022.