The Review: ‘Colours of Time’ – A Charming Dual-Timeline Ode to Art

July 7, 2026

0Points

Cédric Klapisch’s Colours of Time is a delightful, French crowdpleaser that weaves together two eras—1895 Paris at the dawn of Impressionism and modernity, and the anxious present of 2025—with warmth, visual flair, and a generous helping of sentiment. This film celebrates human connections, the pull of family (even distant and estranged), and the quiet revolutions of everyday life, all while indulging in the beauty of art and the City of Light.

The story begins in the present with a group of cousins, unexpectedly united by the inheritance of a long-abandoned cottage in Normandy. Left untouched since the 1940s, the house becomes a portal to their shared past as they uncover artifacts revealing the life of their ancestor, the vibrant and curious Adèle (Suzanne Lindon). This sparks parallel storytelling in the Belle Époque, where young Adèle leaves rural life for Paris, immersing herself in photography, Impressionist painting (with nods to Monet and others), and the cultural upheavals of the turn-of-the-century.

Klapisch handles the dual timelines with inventive cuts and clever parallels that highlight how little (and how much) has changed in matters of love, ambition, creativity, and belonging. The past sequences often steal the show: they’re alive with period detail, such as costumes, and a pictorial warmth captured by Alexis Kavyrchine’s cinematography. Lindon brings a certain charm to Adèle, making her coming-of-age tale—filled with chance encounters, artistic awakenings, and romantic sparks—feel like a fairy-tale infused with historical texture. The present-day threads are more comedic, focusing on the cousins’ evolving bonds and modern-day frustrations.

The ensemble cast is a standout, bringing natural chemistry and humor to both timelines. Wapler and Soualem particularly impress in the present, while the film’s visual poetry, makes it a feast for the eyes. I have to say though it’s not revolutionary cinema, and it sometimes stays on the surface of its ambitions about inheritance and modernity.

In the end, Colours of Time offers something rare: gentle entertainment with heart, wit, and a subtle reminder to appreciate the friends, family, and fleeting beauties we encounter.