"I like cinema. I am very fond of it. But from time to time I feel like having some time on my own"

Patrice Leconte’s reflection reveals a delicate balance between passion and personal solitude. His fondness for cinema is clear; it is more than just appreciation, it is affection, immersion, and perhaps even a defining element of his identity. Yet, alongside this devotion, he acknowledges a recurring need for space and individual contemplation. This duality highlights a universal human tendency: to be intensely involved with something we love, while still requiring moments apart to recalibrate and reflect.

The appeal of cinema, for anyone deeply engaged with it, often lies in its ability to transport, to provoke thoughts and emotions, and to foster a sense of connection with stories and characters beyond one’s own experience. For someone like Leconte, who has made cinema both an art and a vocation, the relationship may become all-consuming. Such consistent engagement, however, can also lead to creative fatigue or a sense of being subsumed within the larger world of cinema itself.

Stepping away intermittently allows for personal renewal. Time alone can serve as an antidote to the overwhelming nature of constant participation in any field, even one as enchanting as film. Creative minds, in particular, benefit from periods of retreat; solitude breeds introspection, new ideas, and a refreshed sense of purpose. This withdrawal is not rejection, but reinvigoration, it makes the return to cinema richer and more meaningful. Leconte’s sentiment suggests maturity: he understands that passion is not lessened by intervals of distance, but rather sustained by them.

His statement quietly challenges the idea that true dedication entails relentless immersion. Instead, he proposes that genuine fondness allows for, even necessitates, occasional separation. In the end, the relationship between the artist and cinema is not diminished by solitude; it is enhanced, deepened, and rendered more authentic by moments spent alone, reflecting and recharging for the next creative engagement.