Departure

Departure, in the US on Kanopy and Hoopla, takes its central relationship as seriously as its plot. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. Its 6/10 TMDB score, built from 114 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Juliet Stevenson is the anchor, and the chemistry with the rest of the cast carries every scene. Put it on tonight on Kanopy and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Departure earns its spot. Departure treats its central relationship as something worth taking seriously. An English mother and her teenage son spend a week preparing the sale of their remote holiday house in the South of France. Fifteen-year-old Elliot struggles with his dawning sexuality and an increasing alienation from his mother, Beatrice. She in turn is confronted by the realisation that her marriage to his father, Philip, has grown loveless and the life she knows is coming to an end. Juliet Stevenson and Alex Lawther lead a cast whose chemistry carries the emotional beats. Departure came out in 2016. What makes Departure work is that the leads feel like people first, a couple second. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Departure is the kind of thing you watch without apology. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Juliet Stevenson is the anchor, and the work here is one of the more understated achievements in their career. The kind of thing you finish and immediately want more of.

Departure was released in 2016, directed by Andrew Steggall. The full 109-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.