Watching Inception again a few months ago with a family friend,I got told that co-star Marion Cotillard has done a number of strong French films.Taking a look one day round Netflix UK,I was very happy to find one of Cotillard's titles on the site,which led to me getting set to watch it,for two days and one night.
The plot:
Trying to get back into work after battling depression, Sandra discovers that her workmates have voted her out,in exchange for a 1000 Euro pay rise.Talking to friend Julien,Sandra discovers that manager Jean-Marc threatened some of the workers with the sack,if they did not vote her out.Getting hold of the company CEO,Sandra gets a second vote agreed on,in two days time. Needing over half her fellow workers to vote on her side,Sandra decides to spend the next 2 days meeting each worker,and putting her case across to them.
View on the film:
Coming from the documentary world,co-writers/directors Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne soak the film in an incredibly intimate atmosphere,via long takes giving each of Sandra's meetings with her fellow workers a rustic glaze. Keeping away from any "big" camera moves,the Dardenne's marvellously follow Sandra with well-held hand-held cameras,which along with giving the movie an on the spot presentation,also gives all the conversations in the title a stark, naturalistic quality.
Set against the financial crisis, the screenplay by the Dardenne's turns off the TV channels to focus on what effect the events are having on people at the bottom of the ladder.Taking an episodic edge,the Dardenne's use each meeting to gradually bring themes from the background to the front of the screen,from the very male-dominated workplace,to Sandra discovering her own independence. Walking on egg shells whilst hold her head high, Marion Cotillard gives an extraordinary performance as Sandra. Slumping her shoulders with each rejection, Cotillard displays the lingering scent of depression in its most naked form,and gradually peels open a proud vitality in Sandra,over 2 days and 1 night.
The plot:
Trying to get back into work after battling depression, Sandra discovers that her workmates have voted her out,in exchange for a 1000 Euro pay rise.Talking to friend Julien,Sandra discovers that manager Jean-Marc threatened some of the workers with the sack,if they did not vote her out.Getting hold of the company CEO,Sandra gets a second vote agreed on,in two days time. Needing over half her fellow workers to vote on her side,Sandra decides to spend the next 2 days meeting each worker,and putting her case across to them.
View on the film:
Coming from the documentary world,co-writers/directors Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne soak the film in an incredibly intimate atmosphere,via long takes giving each of Sandra's meetings with her fellow workers a rustic glaze. Keeping away from any "big" camera moves,the Dardenne's marvellously follow Sandra with well-held hand-held cameras,which along with giving the movie an on the spot presentation,also gives all the conversations in the title a stark, naturalistic quality.
Set against the financial crisis, the screenplay by the Dardenne's turns off the TV channels to focus on what effect the events are having on people at the bottom of the ladder.Taking an episodic edge,the Dardenne's use each meeting to gradually bring themes from the background to the front of the screen,from the very male-dominated workplace,to Sandra discovering her own independence. Walking on egg shells whilst hold her head high, Marion Cotillard gives an extraordinary performance as Sandra. Slumping her shoulders with each rejection, Cotillard displays the lingering scent of depression in its most naked form,and gradually peels open a proud vitality in Sandra,over 2 days and 1 night.