Just an Illusion is a 2026 French coming-of-age comedy drama, directed by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano, from a screenplay which they co-wrote with Nathalie Hertzberg. The film had its world premiere at Le Grand Rex cinema in Paris in March 2026 and went on general release in France shortly thereafter. It was featured at the San Sebastián Film Festival and received a limited release in the UK on 11 September 2026. It is likely to be rolled out more widely in the UK during October.

Vincent Dayan (Simon Boublil) is the youngest son of a lower-middle-class Jewish family living in an apartment complex in the western suburbs of Paris. It is 1985. Struggling to find the space to navigate through those difficult years, he is caught between his parents Yves (Louis Garrel) and Sandrine (Camille Cottin), who bicker incessantly, and a provocative older brother, Arnaud (Alexis Rosenstiehl), with whom he must still share a room. As his teenage years rapidly approach, he prepares for his bar mitzvah with the help of the rabbi; then he meets Anne-Karine Duchesnay (Jeanne Lamartine) and falls head-over-heels in love. Add to this mix his discovery of the North African heritage of both of his parents and his father’s unemployment resulting from the economic downturn, and there are all the ingredients for a fairly standard coming-of-age drama.

And for the first forty minutes or so that is exactly what we get. It is entertaining enough, but there is little new or different, and it seems to lack focus, unsure whether it is about Vincent or his parents’ marital problems. Then somehow it lifts itself out of its ordinariness and for the last hour or so it really is excellent.

Garrel and Cottin are hilarious throughout as the parents, and the story of their marriage difficulties is worthy of comparison with Woody Allen. Concierge Étienne Berger (Pierre Lottin), adds spice to their issues, coming to Sandrine’s aid when required and providing an outlet for Yves’ jealousy. But it is the unexpected twists and turns in Vincent’s budding romance, with the unlikely assistance of big brother Arnaud, which takes Just an Illusion from ordinary to special.

Following their overwhelming success with hit film Intouchable, Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano prove themselves once again to be masters of gentle yet surprising comedy-drama.

The music of the period works well throughout, and there is a scene where Sandrine, at home alone cleaning, dances to the Pointer Sisters’ I’m So Excited with such abandon that I will never be able to watch Camille Cottin again without remembering it and grinning to myself!

Just an Illusion is well worth seeing. If you find it a little slow to start, don’t worry, when it gets going it definitely gets going!