Frank
(Jalil Lespert), who is studying business in Paris, has
taken job as an intern in the factory where his father (Jean-Claude
Vallod) has worked for 30 years. His married sister (Veronique de
Pandelaere) also is employed at the same metalwork plant. It is
obvious from the outset that this young man is the apple of his
parent's eyes and they have invested a lot of time, energy, and
money in his education.
On Frank's first tour of the factory, his father shows him the
machine he works on and proudly notes that on a good day he can
punch 700 parts an hour. The old man is glad to see that his son has
made a good impression on the boss (Lucien Longueville), a shrewd
man who wants to make the most out of the intern's youthful energy
and enthusiasm.
Frank's assignment is to work on the factory's imminent
changeover to a 35-hour work week. When the workers' union
representatives resist some of management's plans, Frank recalls a
situation he studied in school when a company went directly to the
workers for their opinions. Madame Arnoux (Danielle Melador), the
charismatic and feisty union leader, immediately senses that this
newcomer and his referendum spell trouble for the workers. Meanwhile
Frank's membership on the management team isolates him from his old
friends who feel he's now become elitist. Equally disconcerting is
the fact that he is excluded from meetings with out-of-town
bigwigs.
Human Resources is one of the best films of the year with
its riveting portrait of how difficult it is to keep your soul alive
in the workplace. With an intensity of focus rarely seen in American
movies, this French drama directed by Laurent Cantet and co-written
with Gilles Marchand shows what happens when companies disregard the
souls of their employees and ask them to sacrifice all on the
corporate altar.
When Frank discovers that his referendum is being used by
management to justify laying off more workers ¡ª including his own
father ¡ª he decides to fight back on the side of the union. Along
with a machine worker (Didier Emile-Woldemard), Frank pulls off a
bit of industrial espionage in order to get a crucial bit of
information needed by the union for a case against the boss.
The emotional hub of
Human Resources is the ensuing clash
between Frank and his father over the nature and meaning of work.
The old man loves his job and doesn't have a clue as to why his son
thinks it is important for him to have more leisure time every week.
And Frank can't understand why his father doesn't cherish the idea
of a less monotonous job and more input from the employees on
working conditions.
Human Resources brings to vivid and dramatic light the
varied ways in which soul is savaged and then brought to life again
in the workplace. Madame Arnoux certainly is a passionate person who
stands up for what she believes in and acts forcefully. Despite all
that he has to lose, Frank finds the inner courage to speak out
against the injustice perpetrated upon the workers. But his heart
just isn't big enough for him to reconcile with his father after he
publicly proclaims the shame he's felt for years in being the son of
a passive working-class stiff.
One of the many marvels surrounding this outstanding French film
is that all the actors and actresses, except Jalil Lespert as Frank,
are nonprofessionals. It's to director Laurent Cantet's credit that
he has not slighted the complexity of bringing soul to life in the
much-tarnished world of work. And true to human nature, although
Frank wins one battle in the factory, he is left high and dry in his
relationship with his father.
From Film.com
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