When filmmaker David Walter Hall reached out to me recently to share his new film, he thought the story might resonate with readers of the Barefoot Blogger. He was right.
Writer and Director David Walter Hall believed his debut feature, Passing Through, would strike a familiar chord with Barefoot Blogger readers who have dreamed of, or dared to, start over in France.
Set in the coastal town of Agde, Passing Through tells the story of an Australian couple who move to the South of France to begin a new life — until the past unexpectedly finds its way back to them.
A Film About Renewal
Hall’s debut feature centers on Tom, a retired teacher, and Iona, his new partner. They’ve come to France to start a new chapter together, trusting that distance from their former lives might bring clarity and peace — a new beginning. Their calm is upended when Tom’s estranged son turns up with his French girlfriend, Adèle. What follows is part family drama, part reflection on how starting over in France doesn’t mean leaving everything behind.
The film captures the romance of reinvention — what it means to begin again with no expectations, to chase the dream of a simpler, more authentic life, even after loss or failure. But it also shows that change later in life feels radical to others, but natural and necessary to those who live it.
“It’s about optimism amid uncertainty,” Hall says. “Each of the characters is a bit of me.”
Why Agde?
Hall’s connection to Agde runs deep. His mother and stepfather bought a home there more than twenty years ago, and its mix of grit and sunlight stayed with him. “Agde looked like a place runaways would go,” he says. “A place to leave your old life behind and start again.”
That realism shapes the film. The Agde of Passing Through isn’t a postcard France; it’s the France of morning markets, quiet rivers, and streets where locals and newcomers live side by side. Shot in and around the town’s dark lava-stone streets, riverside cafés, and beaches, the film captures Agde’s texture — real, unpolished, alive.
The Sound and Soul of Place
The title Passing Through comes from a song performed by Leonard Cohen. When Hall couldn’t buy the rights to the music, he and composer Jonny Phillips created an original score — part Mediterranean guitar, part Gypsy rhythm — that mirrors the town’s layered character. Local musicians and townspeople appear on screen, including performers Tony and Nathanael Patrac from Agde’s Gypsy community. The result feels real, not staged — a portrait of a place where reinvention still feels possible..
Recognition and Response
Despite its modest budget, Passing Through has earned international attention. It won Best First Feature Film at the Ramsgate International Film and Television Festival, where actress Brenda Blethyn praised it as “beautifully filmed” with “impeccable performances.”
The film premiered in Agde this past summer and is now screening across the UK, with releases in Australia and the U.S. to follow.
After years of perseverance — filming in 2019, then navigating the isolation of the pandemic — Hall is finally seeing his first feature reach audiences worldwide. “Nothing in the film world happens automatically,” he reflected. “You just keep going.”
His next project turns to comedy, promising to give another thoughtful look at friendship, family, and the ties that keep people connected.
Why It Resonates
For the Barefoot Blogger audience, Passing Through feels like a kindred story. It’s about the courage to begin again, the romance of a new life in France, and the vulnerability that comes with doing something radical — facing the unfamiliar at an older age and discovering that relationships, new and old, still define us.
The film reflects what many of us have felt: that reinvention isn’t about running away but about opening yourself to new possibilities. In the South of France, where the light softens even the hardest edges, that possibility feels within reach.
“The region welcomes outsiders,” Hall says. “It’s a place that invites reinvention.”
That truth is what makes Passing Through so fitting for Barefoot Blogger readers. It’s not the glossy France of travel posters — it’s the one where people come, sometimes uncertain, sometimes brave, always hopeful, to start again.
Where to Watch
Passing Through, written and directed by David Walter Hall, is now showing in select UK cinemas and streaming on Prime TV in Australia and the United States.
You can watch a preview of the film now on the Barefoot Blogger YouTube channel.
And stay tuned—The Barefoot Blogger will soon visit Agde to see the town behind the film and share the places where new beginnings still feel possible.
For screening updates, visit passingthroughmovie.com/
Do Stories Like “Passing Through” Speak to you?
If stories like Passing Through speak to you, you’ll love French Footsteps, the newsletter for anyone dreaming of a new life in France. Real experiences, practical advice, and the inspiration to make your own fresh start.
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Have You Started Over in France?
Have you felt that same pull to begin again in France? Whether you’ve already made the move or are still dreaming, I’d love to hear your story. Share your thoughts in the comments, or write to me directly @deborah @bfblogger.com. Your journey might inspire others who are just passing through.
One Response
Oh so enjoyed this fun post! Mille merci’s. We stayed for a couple of months near Agde in the small, sweet town of Marseillan. We were assessing if it might suit us for our retirement move to France. We choose another coastal location, although met some lovely people there while renting.
Definitely will try to see his film.