Emmanuel Marre's protagonist, Henri Marre, shares the director's surname: an engineer who arrives in Vichy in 1940 carrying copies of his manifesto and a belief in efficiency above all. Swann Arlaud plays him as a man who keeps making himself useful to an authoritarian machine, one reasonable-sounding step at a time. If you want a history film that feels uncomfortably current, this is it.
What to expect
Expect a North American premiere of a French-language period drama with English subtitles. It is a long, deliberate film, so settle in for a late-morning screening. The screening sits in the festival's Main Slate, the core selection of the year's most celebrated new films.
Good to know
- Screenings are at Film at Lincoln Center on West 65th Street; take the 1 train to 66 St–Lincoln Center
- Festival screenings often sell out, so buy ahead and check for day-of rush or standby lines
- Seats are reserved, so arrive a little early to clear the lobby and find your row
- Screens in French with English subtitles
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Common questions
What is A Man of His Time about?
A broke engineer who arrives in Vichy in 1940 and works his way into the new authoritarian regime.
Did it win awards?
It won a prize at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival before coming to NYFF.
