Things to Come (2016) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

After changes in her marriage, work, and family responsibilities, Nathalie continues to pursue an intellectually independent life.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

Teaching Against the Current

Nathalie faces a school protest while continuing her work as a philosophy teacher. At home, her mother's distress and her parents' sharp exchanges add pressure to her responsibilities.

Key Events

• Seaside Conversation — Nathalie and a companion discuss music and a writer's final wish. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux Location: Seaside
• Years Pass — The story jumps several years ahead to Nathalie's life as a philosophy teacher. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux Location: Unspecified
• Students Block the Entrance — Students protesting education reform block the entrance, keeping Antonia and others from entering. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux, Antonia Location: School entrance
• Nathalie Challenges the Protest — Nathalie argues that the protest is unfair to teachers and questions its claims about solidarity and the future. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux, Antonia Location: School entrance
• Mother Calls in Distress — Nathalie's mother calls during a panic attack, while Nathalie hesitates to set aside her own responsibilities. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux Location: Nathalie's home
• Family Gathering Tensions — Nathalie's parents trade sharp remarks during a family gathering. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux Location: Family gathering

A Different Future Beckons

Fabien tells Nathalie about his activism and his plan to leave Paris for a remote farm. Nathalie reveals that Heinz is leaving their marriage, forcing her to consider life after a long-established partnership.

Key Events

• Fabien Visits After Protest — Fabien visits after spending a night protesting an eviction and tells Nathalie about his activism. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux, Fabien Location: Nathalie's home
• Fabien Plans a New Life — Fabien tells Nathalie that he plans to leave Paris with friends to run a remote farm and write. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux, Fabien Location: Nathalie's home
• Marriage Separation Revealed — Nathalie tells Fabien that she and Heinz are separating after 25 years because Heinz has found another woman. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux, Fabien, Heinz Location: Nathalie's home
• Nathalie Claims Resilience — Nathalie insists that she is coping and draws strength from her intellectual life. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux, Fabien Location: Nathalie's home

Work and Separation Unravel

Nathalie's professional prospects weaken as publishers question or end projects. Her discovery that Heinz has taken books containing her notes adds another painful dispute to their separation, while she keeps teaching.

Key Events

• Textbook Work Falters — Publishers decline to renew a textbook project and express doubts about other work. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux Location: Unspecified
• A Book Remains in Progress — Despite doubts about other work, a previously signed book remains in progress. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux Location: Unspecified
• Notes Taken from Home — Nathalie discovers that Heinz has taken books containing her notes, prompting another dispute. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux, Heinz Location: Nathalie's home
• Teaching Continues — Nathalie continues teaching and thinking about faith, desire, and imagination. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux Location: Classroom

Imagination and Continuance

A year later, Nathalie visits a household with a newborn, where light-hearted conversation turns emotional. In class, she describes imagination as a source of hope and comfort, and the film ends with her continuing to teach and reflect.

Key Events

• Visit to a Newborn — A year later, Nathalie visits a household with a newborn and holds the baby. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux Location: A household
• Family Resemblance Banter — Those present playfully debate whom the baby resembles. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux Location: A household
• A Remark Prompts Tears — A remark about someone's father turns the affectionate reunion unexpectedly emotional. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux Location: A household
• Imagination Sustains Hope — Nathalie explains that imagination can offer hope and comfort when reality disappoints. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux Location: Classroom
• An Uncertain Future — The film closes with Nathalie still teaching and reflecting, retaining her intellectual independence. Characters: Nathalie Chazeaux Location: Classroom

Story Breakdown

• Schoolroom Disagreement — Nathalie's teaching brings her into direct contact with students protesting education reform.
  • Blocked Entrance — Protesting students prevent access to the school, including for Antonia.
  • Debate on Solidarity — Nathalie challenges the students' claims and argues that the protest is unfair to teachers.
• Family Responsibilities — Nathalie's obligations at home grow more difficult as her mother struggles and her parents clash.
  • Mother's Panic — Her mother calls in distress during a panic attack, and Nathalie hesitates to leave her responsibilities.
  • Parents' Remarks — Nathalie's parents trade sharp remarks at a family gathering.
• Fabien's Departure Plans — Fabien shares his activism and a possible future away from Paris with Nathalie.
  • Eviction Protest — Fabien says he has spent a night protesting an eviction.
  • Remote Farm — He plans to leave Paris with friends to run a remote farm and write.
• Marriage Comes Apart — Nathalie faces the end of her long marriage to Heinz and the practical pain of their separation.
  • Heinz Leaves — Nathalie tells Fabien that Heinz has found another woman and that they are separating after 25 years.
  • Missing Books — Nathalie discovers that Heinz has taken books containing her notes, prompting another dispute.
• Professional Uncertainty — Changes in Nathalie's work unsettle her career, even as she continues to teach and think.
  • Textbook Not Renewed — Publishers decide not to renew a textbook project and express doubts about other work.
  • Teaching Persists — Nathalie continues teaching and considering questions of faith, desire, and imagination.
• A Newborn Reunion — A later visit to a household with a newborn becomes affectionate and then unexpectedly emotional.
  • Holding the Baby — Nathalie visits a household with a newborn and holds the baby.
  • Tears at a Remark — A remark about someone's father changes the mood of the reunion and prompts tears.
• Imagination and Hope — Nathalie's reflections on imagination frame the film's closing emphasis on continuing through uncertainty.
  • Comfort in Imagination — In class, Nathalie says imagination can sustain hope and comfort when reality disappoints.
  • Independent Future — The film ends with Nathalie still teaching and reflecting without surrendering her intellectual independence.

Directed by

Mia Hansen-Løve

Key Cast

• Isabelle Huppert — Nathalie Chazeaux
• André Marcon — Heinz
• Roman Kolinka — Fabien
• Édith Scob — Yvette
• Sarah Le Picard — Chloé