Time Out is loosely based on the true story of a man who lied to his family about having a magnificent job, but actually survived off of the money he defrauded from people in the name of obscure investments. However, the true story is that the man suffered from narcissism and ended up killing his family so that they'd not find out, whereas this movie is not about the gruesome reality but about the failed illusion. The character Vincent in this movie is not a likable character; in fact, he's a real schmuck. However, his desperation and unrealized need drives the drama of a movie that's about corporate entrapment.
Not a whole lot is made clear early in the movie; rather, Cantet builds the movie around the very vagueness that defines the frustrated interactions supporting characters have with Vincent. Even though Vincent is lying to his family, lying to his friends and associates, and lying to everyone who meets on the street, the real power Cantet manages to pull off is making the audience just as dependent emotionally on the lies that Vincent spreads. As such, the revealing of the truth isn't nearly as important as struggling with where Vincent ends up; some people might feel that the ending is a let-down to the tension that's built, but the point is that it could not have happened any other way.
--PolarisDiB
Not a whole lot is made clear early in the movie; rather, Cantet builds the movie around the very vagueness that defines the frustrated interactions supporting characters have with Vincent. Even though Vincent is lying to his family, lying to his friends and associates, and lying to everyone who meets on the street, the real power Cantet manages to pull off is making the audience just as dependent emotionally on the lies that Vincent spreads. As such, the revealing of the truth isn't nearly as important as struggling with where Vincent ends up; some people might feel that the ending is a let-down to the tension that's built, but the point is that it could not have happened any other way.
--PolarisDiB