This film has limited interests but I keep a certain attachment to it. The key elements are : France, Marseille, Dockers, Strike, Factory Workers, anti-French-war-in-Indochina-protests, Romance, Solidarity and Family life ! There is not much of a plot as such but it's more a depiction of life in the 1950's in the docklands of the Southern French port of Marseille. Work is scarce, many dockers are on the dole and to boot there is a total strike with the obvious consequences that entails.
We follow the lives of a young docker and his fiancé who are both trying to obtain a flat to live in with great difficulty as well as the lives of their respective families and friends. There are of course inevitable scenes of families tucking into the "apéro" with a bottle of pastis ! Nearly all of the film was made on the docks. Those knowing Marseille well ( I have never visited the place so cannot feel the nostalgia in my own heart ) will no doubt feel reminiscences and pangs of nostalgia on seeing this film. The actors were all unknown to me and many of them seemed a little unsure of their lines ! There is lovely plaintive accordion music by Jean Wiener throughout the film and we get to see scenes of children and family life. All have the local Marseille accent which is very musical and different from accents in the north of France.
I like this film because it is not an intellectual film, it is made with the heart and sought to depict life as it was at the time. For that reason it has enormous documentary value, but you certainly should not look for a well constructed plot or marvellous actor performances. I do not think the film is readily available, I taped it many years ago off French TV channel ARTE but have never seen it since either on TV, VHS or DVD.