French Exit is a 2020 comedy-drama film directed by Azazel Jacobs and is based on the novel of the same name by Patrick deWitt. The film stars Michelle Pfeiffer as Frances Price, a wealthy New York socialite who has spent her entire life living off her husband's fortune. However, after her husband dies and her finances run dry, Frances decides to sell off all her possessions and move to Paris with her adult son Malcolm (Lucas Hedges) and her talking cat Small Frank (voiced by Tracy Letts).
As they settle into their new life in a dilapidated apartment in Paris, Frances and Malcolm try to come to terms with their new reality. Meanwhile, Small Frank begins to reveal startling secrets about Frances and her husband's past. The trio soon finds themselves entangled in a series of bizarre encounters with eccentric characters, including an aging medium (Danielle Macdonald) and a private investigator (Isaach De Bankolé), as they try to uncover the truth about Small Frank's identity.
The film has received positive reviews for its quirky humor, captivating performances, and heartfelt exploration of grief, loneliness, and redemption. Pfeiffer has been particularly praised for her commanding performance as Frances, with many critics calling it one of the best of her career. Overall, French Exit is a witty and poignant tale of a mother and son searching for a new beginning amidst the ruins of their old lives.