Nino

Nino (Théodore Pellerin) is devastated to learn that he has cancer and will have to undergo urgent treatment. That’s compounded when he’s told the treatment may leave him infertile. So he’s advised to get a sperm sample and have it frozen, for future use. All this over a weekend.

After this traumatic opening Nino walks around Paris trying to get to grips with the news. Encountering an old school colleague, a visit to his mother and ex (she needs to know as the cancer is derived from the papillon virus) and a party with some friends. He’s also locked out of his apartment and can’t get hold of the concierge.

What develops is a character study and Nino, at times, is infuriatingly frustrating. It’s his birthday and when visiting his mother (Jeanne Balibar) the talk is of death and her recalling his birth. He can’t tell her about his diagnosis.

Similarly, when he meets his ex Camille (Camille Rutherford). There’s a hint that he still has feelings although she is all set to go to Montreal. At the party (for him) he finally manages to confide in Sofian (William Lebghil) and then get drunk. Based on a lie Nino manipulates a meeting with old school friend with Zoé (Salomé Dewaels) and he finds that they get on.

Director Pauline Loquès and cowriter Maud Ameline pack a lot into the ninety minutes or so and create a character that one is forced to have sympathy with yet not like very much.

Nino is understandably scared and confused (he doesn’t help himself with his online research). But the sheer amount of lies and obfuscation aren’t warming towards the character.

But the viewer should develop an understanding thanks to a sensitive performance by Pellerin. It’s one of those situations that only those affected can truly empathise with Nino. Another person may well handle the news differently. Sometimes there in no right or wrong way to handle things and there has to be respect for that.

Nino will open on the UK and Ireland on 19 June 2026.