Ressources humaines (1999)

Director:

Laurent Cantet

Writers:

Laurent Cantet (scenario)
Gilles Marchand (collaboration)

Release Date:

15 January 2000 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The 35-hour work week has all of France in its thrall. This film turns it into a feature about economic and familial politics...

Plot Keywords:

Working Class | Strike | Downsizing | Father Son Relationship | Social Issues

Awards:

19 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Jalil Lespert	...	Franck
Jean-Claude Vallod	...	Le père
Chantal Barré	...	La mère
Véronique de Pandelaère	...	Sylvie
Michel Begnez	...	Olivier
Lucien Longueville	...	Le patron
Danielle Mélador	...	Danielle Arnoux, la syndicaliste
Pascal Sémard	...	Le DRH
Didier Emile-Woldemard	...	Alain
Françoise Boutigny	...	Betty
Félix Cantet	...	Félix
Marie Cantet	...	Marie
Sébastien Tauvel	...	Christian
Jean-François Garcia	...	François
Gaëlle Amouret	...	Frédérique

Also Known As:

Human Resources (USA)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

France | UK

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Malaysia:U | Netherlands:12 | Netherlands:12 (DVD) (2008) | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | France:U | Germany:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Aubevoye, Eure, France

Company:

La Sept-Arte

Trivia:

Laurent Cantet's first feature film.

Soundtrack:

Zip Jazz

Morality Drama

"Ressources humaines" is a consideration of the tensions created between management and labor, as seen through the eyes of a business grad student serving as a temporary management trainee during his school break.

A proposed 35-hour work week is used as a dramatic charge for investigating both sides of white/blue collar concerns in a factory setting. After a strike is called by the workers, who feel betrayed by management, while management feels betrayed by its trainee who publicly discloses a "secret memo" on the pending firing of several workers, the film ends before a resolution is reached.

Actually, it's not necessary to reveal the resolution, for that's not what the film appears to be about. While both sides feel their respective issues deeply, and both have seemingly legitimate arguments, at least to themselves, we witness what may actually be an absurdist comedy:

Is the creation of a world of limitation a state of awareness that may in itself be spurious? Is the belief in lack a subconsious denial of human potential? Is the reacting to injustice an indvertent bonding of the actor to his own nemisis? Indeed, are not management and labor in effect merely different sides of the same coin?

From a distant perspective, after "Ressources humaines" has unfolded and its passion and emotion subsided, we observe a dented sponge returning to its original shape. Nothing has really progressed, only temporarily allowed its profile to give.

Yes, there is nothing to do in Laurent Cantet's world but to silently laugh at his sharp depiction of errors. Jalil Lespert as the student, Frank, and Jean-Claude as Le pere give mesmerizing performances.